
FACTS 


Democratic Platforms 


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©CI.A433797 


JUL 20 1916 


Map showing result of Presidental Vote for 1912 






































































ORIGIN OF THE PRESENT POLITICAL PARTIES 


3 


ORIGIN OF THE PRESENT POLITICAL PARTIES 


REPUBLICAN PARTY 

The organization of the present Republican party was a direct 
result of the ill feeling aroused by the passage of the Kansas- 
Nebraska act of 1854. This measure repealed the Compromise 
act of 1820 which called for the exclusion ot slavery north of 36°36'. 
In the' northern states the opposition soon grew beyond party 
lines, the movement absorbing many sympathizers from the 
Whigs, Free Soilers, and Democrats. The men became known 
as Anti-Nebraska men. The first state convention of those 
opposing the Kansas-Nebraska act took place at Jackson, 
Michigan, on July 6, 1854, and there the name “Republican” 
was formally adopted. The party was nicknamed “Black- 
Republican” by the Democrats on account of its sympathy 
with the colored race, but the other old parties were nearly 
wiped out by desertions to the new standard. 

In 1856, after having already been in control of the House for 
two years, a national convention was called at Philadelphia at 
which John C. Fremont of California was nominated for 
President on a platform opposed to slavery in Territories and 
in advocacy of a closer union of states. While the Republicans 
lost they showed decided strength.. 

The feeling became much more intense during the next four 
years, the Republicans winning many supporters and the Demo¬ 
crats being badly split between the radical pro-slavery element 
and the Douglas Democrats. Abraham Lincoln was nominated 
by the Republican party at Chicago, May 16, I860 on a plat¬ 
form similar to the one of 1856 with the additional plank of 
a protective tariff. 

With the election of Lincoln the Republican party has held 
the reins of government, with the exception of two short 
periods, for over half a century. 

DEMOCRATIC PARTY 

The Democratic party is the oldest of any of the national 
political parties now existing. Its policies may be said to have 
crystallized in the time of Jefferson, although the movement 
at first was known as the Democratic-Republican party, the 
came Republican was chosen in opposition to the monarchist 
and in favor of state’s rights. The name Democrat was selected 
to oppose the aristocratic element and in favor of equal privileges 
for all. Jefferson was the moving spirit. He was elected Presi¬ 
dent in 1800 and the party held control of the government for 
twenty-four years. During this era the Federalists, the oppos¬ 
ing element, were vanquished. Serious dissentions however, arose 
in the Jefferson party after the War of 1812. A strong liberal 
element believed as the Federalists had, in protection, internal 
improvement and the establishment of a national bank. In 
1824 the two wings ran separate Presidential candidates, t he 
election was settled by the House of Representatives m the choice 
of John Adams the vice-presidential candidate of the liberal 
wing. Now virtually a separate party it selected the name 
“National Republican” later known as “Whig while the 
strict constructionists or Jefferson following took the name ot 
“Democrat” under the leadership of Jackson. Some writers 
give this as the proper beginning of the Democratic I arty, 

1828-1831. . ... , 

After the loss of Jackson the Democratic party fell under the 
control of Southern enthusiasts who turned the states rights 
doctrine into a defence of slavery*, The Kansas trouble further 
served to draw such leaders as Douglas outside the ranks. # 

In the campaign of 1860 the Democrats had two tickets m 
the field, the combined popular vote of which surpassed that 
of Lincoln who was elected by the new Republican party. 

PROHIBITION PARTY 

Until 1865, what may be designated political temperance 
depended on the use of parties as they were found to exist in 
the States. This localized the temperance issue, and subjected 
it to the whim of opponents. The t'me had come for the 
nationalization of the cause. In 1869, during a session of the 
Good Templars at Oswego, N. Y., a call was made for a con¬ 
vention to organize a “National Probbihon parf y . is 

Convention met in Chicago, September 1, 1869, with five 
hundred delegates from twenty States, and launched the new 
narty. The first National Convention at Columbus, Ohio, 
February 22, 1872, nominated James Black, of Pennsylvania, 
for President on a platform declaring that as all existing political 
parties had proved unwilling to adopt an adequate policy re¬ 
specting traffic in intoxicating drinks, therefore the Prohibition 
narty pledged itself to maintain the principles of its Declara¬ 
tion and Constitution; that effective State as well as National 


prohibition is the only means of suppressing traffic in intoxi¬ 
cants; that existing party competition for the liquor vote is a 
peril to the nation; dissuasion from the use of intoxicants; 
competency, honesty and sobriety as qualifications for office. 

The party has never polled more than 265,000 votes. 

SOCIALIST PARTY 

For historic purposes it is well to state in this connection 
that the last convention of the American Railway. Union was 
the first convention of the Social Democracy of America, and was 
held at Chicago, June, 1897, the change of name, and, in some 
respect, of principles, being due to the crushing of the Union 
after the Pullman strike. At the national convention of the 
Social Democracy, June, 1898, a split occurred, one faction 
adhering to the colonization scheme, the other favoring political 
action as a working-class party. The latter faction became 
known as the Social Democratic Party. In July, 1899, the 
Socialist Labor Party divided, and one of its factions united 
with the Social Democratic Party in 1900, the united party 
taking the name of the Socialist Party. In 1900 the Socialist 
Party cast 87,814 votes and the Socialist Labor Party 39,739 votes. 

The Socialist Party, the first in the field for the campaign of 
1904, met in pational convention at Chicago, May 1-6, 1904, 
where it nominated. May 5, as its candidate for President 
Eugene V. Debs, of Terre Haute, Indiana, and for Vice-Presi¬ 
dent Ben Hanfoird, of New York. 

Its platform appealed to the people as that of the only 
organization that is truly democratic; that other parties are 
false to the idea of liberty and self-government in which the 
nation was born, and that State and national legislatures have 
become the agencies of property interests. 

PROGRESSIVE PARTY 

The formation of the Progressive Party was the outgrowth 
of a movement of discontent among the Republicans. Shortly 
after the beginning of the administration of President Taft in 
1908 a number of Senators and members of the .House of Rep¬ 
resentatives broke away from the alleged reactionary methods 
of the Republican organization and refused to abide by caucus 
rules. They combined with the Democrats on many important 
measures to the embarrassment of the “stand pat” Republicans. 
At first these men were known as “insurgents.” Senator Robert 
M. La Folletteof Wisconsin was the avowed leader of the faction 
in the Upper House. 

The sentiment against the administration and the conserva¬ 
tive element gradually grew throughout the country among 
the adherents of the party. This was greatly augmented by 
the passage of the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act. The movement 
finally took on the name “ Progressive Republican.” Represent¬ 
atives from a number of States met in a national conference 
at Chicago on October 16, 1911 and adopted a platform declar¬ 
ing that “the progressive movement is. a struggle to wrest the 
control of the government in the nation and States from the 
representatives of special privilege, and restore it to the control 
of the people.” The conference at the same time endorsed 
Senator La Follette for President and declared tor a direct 
primary as a means for the expression of a presidential choice. 

The legislatures of several States, following the general agita¬ 
tion for Presidential preference primaries, enacted laws legaliz¬ 
ing such methods of procedure. 

Senator La Follette commenced a stumping campaign for the 
Presidency early in the winter 1911-1912. During the spring 
he became ill and was obliged to retire temporarily. During 
this interlude Ex-President Roosevelt, who had been urged by a 
number of leaders to lead the progressive movement, announced 
his candidacy for the Presidency. 

Mr. Roosevelt conducted a strenuous campaign in the States 
where Presidential preference primaries had been established and 
to the surprise of his closet advisers, he won overwhelming 
majorities in nearly every one, defeating President Taft, his 
opponent, in some cases by 6 to 1. Delegates pledged to him 
went to the Chicago Convention nearly as strong in numbers as 
those instructed for Mr. Taft, whose delegates were mostly from 
States not holding primaries. Mr. Roosevelt lost the nomina¬ 
tion but he was not deterred. The very night Mr. Taft was 
nominated Mr. Roosevelt met his followers in Orchestra Hall at 
Chicago and there a new party was determined upon, to be 
known as the Progressive Party. 

Several days later a call was issued for a national convention 
to be held at Chicago during the week beginning August 5, and 
Mr. Roosevelt was nominated for President. 


Copyright 1916 by E. H. Bird 




4 



Copyright Underwood ft Underwood , A\ f. 


For President 

CHARLES E. HUGHES 

Republican Candidate 



Copyright Pack Bros. A'. I’. 

For Vice-President 

CHARLES W. FAIRBANKS 

Republican Candidate 


NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PLATFORM—1916 


In 1861 the Republican party stood for the Union. As it 
stood for the union of States, it now stands for a united people, 
true to American ideals, loyal to American traditions, knowing 
no allegiance except to the Constitution, to the Government, 
and to the flag of the United States. We believe in American 
policies at home and abroad. 

Protection of American Rights. We declare that we 
believe in and will enforce the protection of every American 
citizen in all the rights secured to him by the Con¬ 
stitution, treaties, and the law of nations, at home and abroad, 
by land and sea. These rights, which, in violation of the 
specific promise of their party, made at Baltimore in 1912, the 
Democratic President and the Democratic Congress have failed 
to defend, we will unflinchingly maintain. 

We desire peace, the peace of justice and right, and believe 
in maintaining a straight and honest neutrality between the 
belligerents in the great war in Europe. We must perform all 
our duties and insist upon all our rights as neutrals, without 
fear and without favor. We believe that peace and neutrality, 
as well as the dignity and influence of the United States, cannot 
be preserved by shifty expedients, by phrasemaking, by per¬ 
formances in language, or by attitudes ever changing in an 
effort to secure groups of voters. 

The present Administration has destroyed our influence 
abroad and humiliated us in our own eyes. The Republican 
party believes that a firm, consistent, and courageous foreign 
policy, always maintained by Republican Presidents in accord¬ 
ance with American traditions, is the best, as it is the only true 
way to preserve our peace and restore us to our rightful place 
among the nations. W r e believe in the pacific settlement of 
international disputes and favor the establishment of a world 
court for that purpose. 

Mexico. We deeply sympathize with the fifteen million 
people of Mexico, who, for three years, have seen their country 
devastated, their homes destroyed, their fellow-citizens mur¬ 
dered, and their women outraged by armed bands of desperadoes, 
led by self-seeking, conscienceless agitators, who, when tem¬ 
porarily successful in any locality, have neither sought nor been 
able to restore order or establish and maintain peace. 

We express our horror and indignation at the outrages which 
have been and are being perpetrated by these bandits upon 
American men and women, who were or are in Mexico by in¬ 
vitation of the laws and of the Government of that country, 
and whose rights to security of person and property are guar¬ 
anteed by solemn treaty obligations. We denounce the in¬ 
defensible methods of interference employed by this Admin¬ 


istration in the internal affairs of Mexico, and refer with shame 
to its failure to discharge the duty of this country as next friend 
to Mexico, its duty to other Powers who have relied upon us as 
such friend, and its duty to our citizens in Mexico, in permitting 
the continuance of such conditions, first, by failure to act 
promptly and firmly, and, secondly, by lending its influence to 
the continuation of such conditions through recognition of one 
of the factions responsible for these outrages. 

We pledge our aid in restoring order and maintaining peace 
in Mexico. We promise to our citizens on and near our border 
and to those in Mexico, wherever they may be found, adequate 
and absolute protection in their lives, liberty, and property. 

Monroe Doctrine. We reaffirm our approval of the 
Monroe Doctrine, and declare its maintenance to be a policy 
of this country essential to its present and future peace and 
safety,, and to the achievement of its manifest destiny. 

Latin America. We favor the continuation of Republican 
policies, which will result in drawing more and more closely 
the commercial, financial, and social relations between this 
country and the countries of Latin America. 

Philippines. We renew our allegiance to the Philippine 
policy inaugurated by McKinley, approved by Congress, and 
consistently carried out by Roosevelt and Taft. Even in this 
short time it has enormously improved the material and social 
conditions of the islands, given the Philippine people a con¬ 
stantly increasing participation in their Government, and, if 
persisted in, will bring still greater benefits in the future. 

_ We accepted the responsibility of the islands as a duty to 
civilization and the Filipino people. To leave with our task 
half done would break our pledges, injure our prestige among 
nations, and imperil what already has been accomplished. 

We condemn the Democratic Administration for its attempt 
to abandon the Philippines, which was prevented only by the 
vigorous opposition of Republican members of Congress, aided 
by a few patriotic Democrats. 

Treaty with Russia. We reiterate our unqualified ap¬ 
proval of the action taken in December, 1911, by the President 
and Congress to secure with Russia, as with other countries, 
a treaty that will recognize the absolute right of expatriation 
and prevent all discrimination of whatever kind between 
American citizens, whether native-born or alien, and regardless 
of race, religion, or previous political allegiance. We renew the 
pledge to observe this principle and to maintain the right of 
asylum, which is neither to be surrendered nor restricted, and 
we unite in the cherished hope that the war which is now 
desolating the world may speedily end, with a complete and 






NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PLATFORM—1916 


5 


lasting restoration of brotherhood among the nations of the 
earth and the assurance of full equal rights, civil and religious, 
to all men in every land. 

Protection of the Country. In order to maintain our 
peace and make certain the security of our people within our 
own borders, the country must have not only adequate but 
thorough and complete national defence, ready for any emer¬ 
gency. > We must have a sufficient and effective regular army and 
a provision for ample reserves, already drilled and disciplined, 
who can be called at once to the colors when the hour of danger 
comes. 

We must have a navy so strong and so well proportioned and 
equipped, so thoroughly ready and prepared that no enemy 
can gain command of the sea and effect a landing in force on 
either our Western or our Eastern coast. To secure these 
results we must have a coherent and continuous policy of 
national defence, which even in these perilous days the Demo¬ 
cratic party has utterly failed to develop, but which we promise 
to give to the country. 

Tariff. The Republican party stands now, as always, 
in the fullest sense, for the policy of tariff protection to Ameri¬ 
can industries and American labor, and does not regard an anti¬ 
dumping provision as an adequate substitute. Such protection 
should be reasonable in amount, but sufficient to protect 
adequately American industry and American labor, and be so 
adjusted as to prevent undue exactions by monopolies or Trusts. 
It should, moreover, give special attention to securing the 
industrial independence of the United States, as in the case of 
dyestuffs. 

Through wise tariff and industrial legislation our industries 
can be so organized that they will become not only a commercial 
bulwark, but a powerful aid to national defence. 

The Underwood Tariff act is a complete failure in every 
respect. Under its administration, imports have enormously 
increased, in spite of the fact that the intercourse with foreign 
countries has been largely cut off by reason of the war, while the 
revenues, of which we stand in such dire need, have been greatly 
reduced. Under the normal conditions which prevailed prior 
to the war, it was clearly demonstrated that this act deprived 
the American producer and the American wage-earner of that 
protection which entitled them to meet their foreign 
competitors, and, but for the adventitious conditions created 
by the war, would long since have paralyzed all forms of Ameri¬ 
can industry and deprived American labor of its just reward. 

It has not in the least reduced the cost of living, which has 
constantly advanced from the date of its enactment. The 
welfare of our people demands its repeal and the substitution 
of a measure which, in peace, as well as in war, will produce 
ample revenue and give reasonable protection to all forms of 
American production in mine, forest, field, and factory. 

We favor the creation of a Tariff Commission, with complete 
power to gather and compile information for the use of Con¬ 
gress in all matters relating to the tariff. 

Business. The Republican party has long believed in 
the rigid supervision and strict regulation of the transportation 
and great corporations of the country. It has put its creed into 
its deeds, and all really effective laws regulating the railroads 
and the great industrial corporations are the work of Republican 
Congresses and Presidents. For this policy of regulation and 
supervision the Democrats, in a stumbling and piecemeal way, 
are undertaking to involve the Government in business which 
should be left within the sphere of private enterprise and 
indirect competition with its own citizens, a policy which is 
sure to result in waste, great expense to the taxpayer, and in 
an inferior product. 

The Republican party firmly believes that all who violate 
the laws in regulation of business should be individually 
punished. But prosecution is very different from persecution, 
and business success, no matter how honestly attained, is 
apparently regarded by the Democratic party as in itself a 
crime. Such doctrines and beliefs choke enterprise and stifle 
prosperity. The Republican party believes in encouraging 
American business, as it believes in and will seek to advance 
all American interests. 

Rural Credits. We favor an effective system of rural 
credits as opposed to the ineffective law proposed by the present 
Democratic Administration. 

Rural Free Delivery. We favor the extension of the 
rural free delivery system and condemn the Democratic 
Administration for curtailing and crippling it. 

Merchant Marine. In view of the policies adopted by 
all the maritime nations to encourage their shipping interests, 
and in order to enable us to compete with them for the ocean¬ 


carrying trade, we favor the payment to ships engaged in the 
foreign trade of liberal compensation for services actually 
rendered in carrying the mails, and such further legislation 
as will build up an adequate American merchant marine and 
give us ships which may be requisitioned by the Government 
in time of national emergency. 

We are utterly opposed to the Government ownership of 
vessels, as proposed by the Democratic party, because Govern¬ 
ment owned ships, while effectively preventing the develop¬ 
ment of the American merchant marine by private capital, 
will be entirely unable to provide for the vast volume of Ameri¬ 
can freights, and will leave us more helpless than ever in the 
hard grip of foreign syndicates. 

Transportation. Interstate and intrastate transportation 
has become so interwoven that the attempt to apply two, and 
often several, sets ot laws to its regulation has produced conflicts 
of authority, embarrassment in operation, and inconvenience 
and expense to the public. 

The entire transportation system of the country has become 
essentially national. We, therefore, favor such action by legis¬ 
lation, or, if necessary, through an amendment to the Con¬ 
stitution of the United States as will result in placing it under 
exclusive Federal control. 

Economy and a National Budget. The increasing 
cost of the national Government, and the need for the greatest 
economy of its resources, in order to meet the growing demands 
of the people for Government service, call for the severest 
condemnation qf the wasteful appropriations of this Democratic 
Administration, of its shameless raids on the Treasury, and of 
its opposition to and rejection of President Taft’s oft-repeated 
proposals and earnest efforts to secure economy and efficiency 
through the establishment of a simple, business-like 
budget system, to which we pledge our support, and which 
we hold to be necessary to effect a needed reform in the 
administration of national finances. 

Conservation. We believe in a careful husbandry of 
all the natural resources of the nation—a husbandry which 
means development without waste, use without abuse. 

Civil Service Reform. The Civil Service law has always 
been sustained by the Republican Party, and we renew our 
repeated declaration that it shall be thoroughly and honestly 
enforced and extended wherever practicable. The Democratic 
Party has created since March 4, 1913, 30,000 offices outside 
of the Civil Service law, at an annual cost of $44,000,000 to 
the taxpayers of the country. 

We condemn the gross abuse and the misuse of the law by 
the present Democratic Administration and pledge ourselves 
to a reorganization along lines of efficiency and economy. 

Territorial Matters. Reaffirming the attitude long 
maintained by the Republican Party, we hold that officials 
appointed to administer the Government of any territory 
should be bona-fide residents of the territory in which their 
duties are to be performed. 

Labor Laws. We pledge the Republican Party to the 
faithful enforcement of all Federal laws passed for the protec¬ 
tion of labor. We favor vocational education, the enactment 
and rigid enforcement of a Federal child labor law, the enact¬ 
ment of a generous and comprehensive workmen’s compensation 
law, within the commerce power of Congress, and an accident 
compensation law covering all Government employees. We 
favor the collection and collation under the direction of the 
Department of Labor of complete data relating to industrial 
hazards for the information of Congress, to the end that such 
legislation may be adopted as may be calculated to secure the 
safety, conservation, and protection of labor from the dangers 
incident to industry and transportation. 

Suffrage. The Republican Party, reaffirming its faith 
of Government of the people, by the people, for the people, 
as a measure of justice to one-half of the adult people of this 
country, favors the extension of the suffrage to women, but 
recognizing the right of each State to settle this question for 
itself. 

Such are our principles, such are our purposes and policies. 
We close as we began. The times are dangerous, and the 
future is fraught with peril. The great issues of the day have 
been confused by words and phrases. The American spirit, 
which made the country and saved the Union has been for¬ 
gotten by those charged with the responsibility of power. 
We appeal to all Americans, whether naturalized > or native 
born, to prove to the world that we are Americans in thought 
and in deed, with one loyalty, one hope, one aspiration. We 
call on all Americans to be true to the spirit of America, to the 
great traditions of their common country, and, above all things, 
to keep the faith. 







Copyright Pack Pros’ A 7 . Y. 

For President 

WOODROW WILSON 

Democratic Candidate 






Copyright Pack Pros. .V. T. 



For Vice-President 

THOMAS R. MARSHALL 

Democratic Candidate 


NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM—1916 


The Democratic Party in national convention assembled 
adopted the following declaration to the end that the people 
of the United States may both realize theachievements wrought 
by four years of Democratic administration and be apprised of 
the policies to which the party is committed for the further 
conduct of national affairs. 

Record of Achievement. We indorse the administration 
of Woodrow Wilson. It speaks for itself. It is the best exposi¬ 
tion of sound democratic policy at home and abroad. 

We challenge Comparison of our record, our keeping of pledges, 
and our constructive legislation, with those of any party of any 

llI We found our country hampered by special privilege, a vicious 
tariff, obsolete banking laws, and an inelastic currency. Our 
foreign affairs were dominated by commercial interests for their 
selfish ends. The Republican Party, despite repeated pledges, 
was impotent to correct abuses which it had fostered. Under 
our administration, under a leadership which has never faltered, 
these abuses have been corrected, and our people have been 
freed therefrom. 

Our archaic banking and currency system, prolific of panic 
and disaster under Republican administrations—long the refuge 
of the Money Trust—has been supplanted by the Federal 
Reserve act, a true democracy of credit under Government 
control, already proved a financial bulwark in a world crisis, 
mobilizing our resources, placing abundant credit at the disposal 
of legitimate industry and making a currency panic impossible. 

We have created a Federal trade commission to accommodate 
the perplexing questions arising under the anti-trust laws so 
that monopoly may be strangled at its birth and legitimate 
industry encouraged. Fair competition in business is now 
diSSurcd • 

We have effected an adjustment of the tariff, adequate for 
revenue under peace conditions, and fair to the consumer and to 
the producer. We have adjusted the burdens of taxation so that 
swollen incomes bear their equitable share. Our revenues have 
been sufficient in times of world stress, and will largely exceed 
the expenditures of the current fiscal year. 

We have lifted human labor from the category of commodities 
and have secured to the workingman the right of voluntary 
association for his protection and welfare. We have protected 
the rights of the laborer against the unwarranted issuance of 
writs of injunction, and have guaranteed to him the right of trial 
by jury in cases of alleged contempt committed outside of the 
presence of the court. 


We have advanced the parcel post to genuine efficiency, 
enlarged the postal savings system, added 10,000 rural delivery 
routes and extensions, thus reaching 2,500,000 additional 
people, improved the postal service in every branch, and for the 
first time in our history, placed the Post Office system on a self- 
supporting basis, with actual surplus in 1913, 1914, and 1915. 

Economic Reforms. The reforms which were most 
obviously needed to clear away privilege, prevent unfair dis¬ 
crimination, and release the energies of men of all ranks and 
advantages, have been effected by recent legislation. We must 
now remove, so far as possible, every remaining element of 
unrest and uncertainty from the path of the business men of 
America, and secure for them a continued period of quiet, 
assured and confident prosperity. 

Tariff. We reaffirm our belief in the doctrine of a tariff for 
the purpose of providing sufficient revenue for the operation of 
the Government economically administered, and unreservedly 
indorse the Underwood Tariff law as truly exemplifying that 
doctrine. We recognize that tariff rates are necessarily subject 
to change to meet changing conditions in the world’s production 
and trade. The events of the last two years have brought about 
many momentous changes. In some respects their effects are 
yet conjectural and wait to be disclosed, particularly in regard 
to our foreign trade. Two years of a war which has directly 
involved most of the chief industrial nations of the world, and 
which has indirectly affected the life and industry of all nations, 
are bringing about economic changes more varied and far- 
reaching than the world has ever before experienced. In order to 
ascertain just what those changes may be, the Democratic 
Congress is providing for a non-partisan tariff commission to 
make impartial and thorough study of every economic fact 
that may throw light, either upon our past or upon our future 
fiscal policy with regard to the imposition of taxes on imports or 
with regard to the changed and changing conditions under 
which our trade is carried on. We cordially indorse this timely 
proposal and declare ourselves in sympathy with the principle 
and purpose of shaping legislation within that field in accordance 
with clearly established facts rather than in accordance with 
the demands of selfish interests or upon information provided 
largely, if not exclusively, by them. 

Americanism. The part that the United States will play 
in the new day of international relationships which is now upon 
us will depend upon our preparation and our character. The 
Democratic Party, therefore, recognizes the assertion and tri¬ 
umphant demonstration of the indivisibility and coherent 





NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM—1916 


7 


strength of the nation as the supreme issue of this day in which 
the whole world faces the crisis of manifold change. It sum¬ 
mons all men, of whatever origin or creed, who would count 
themselves Americans, to join in making clear to all the world 
the unity and consequent power of America. 

This is an issue of patriotism. To taint it with partisanship 
would be to defile it. In this day of test, America must show 
itself, not a nation of partisans, but a nation of patriots. There 
is gathered here in America the best of the blood, the industry, 
the genius of the whole world, the elements of a great race and a 
magnificent society to be melted into a mighty and splendid 
nation. 

Whoever, actuated by the purpose to promote the interest of a 
foreign power, in disregard of our own country’s welfare, or to 
injure this Government in its foreign relations or cripple or 
destroy its industries at home, and whoever by arousing preju¬ 
dices of a racial, religious, or other nature creates discord and 
strife among our people so as to obstruct the wholesome process 
of unification, is faithless to the trust which the privileges of 
citizenship repose in him and disloyal to his country. 

We, therefore, condemn as subversive of this nation’s unity 
and integrity, and as destructive of its welfare, the activities and 
designs of every group or organization, political or otherwise, 
that has for its object the advancement of the interest of a for¬ 
eign power, whether such object is promoted by intimidating 
the Government, a political party, or representatives of the 
people, or which is calculated and tends to divide our people 
into antagonistic groups and thus to destroy that complete 
agreement and solidarity of the people and that unity of senti¬ 
ment and national purpose so essential to the perpetuity of the 
nation and its free institutions. 

We condemn all alliances and combinations of individuals in 
this country of whatever nationality or descent, who agree and 
conspire together for the purpose of embarrassing or weakening 
our Government or of improperly influencing or coercing our 
public representatives in dealing or negotiating with any foreign 
power. We charge that such conspiracies among a limited 
number exist and have been instigated for the purpose of ad¬ 
vancing the interests of foreign countries to the prejudice and 
detriment of our own country. We condemn any political party 
which, in view of the activity of such conspirators, surrenders its 
integrity or modifies its policy. 

Preparedness. Along with the proof of our character as a 
nation must go the proof of our power to play the part that 
legitimately belongs to us. The people of the United States 
love peace. They respect the rights and covet the friendship of 
all other nations. They desire neither any additional territory 
nor any advantage which cannot be peacefully gained by their 
skill, their industry, or their enterprise; but they insist upon 
having absolute freedom of national life and policy, and feel 
that they owe it to themselves and to the role of spirited inde¬ 
pendence which it is their sole ambition to play.that they should 
render themselves secure against the hazard of interference from 
any quarter, and should be able to protect their rights upon the 
seas or in any part of the world. We, therefore, favor the main¬ 
tenance of an army fully adequate to the requirements of order, 
of safety, and of the protection of the nation’s rights, the fullest 
development of modern methods of seacoast defense and the 
maintenance of an adequate reserve of citizens trained to arms 
and prepared to safeguard the people and territory of the United 
States against any danger of hostile action which may unex¬ 
pectedly arise; and a fixed policy for the continuous develop¬ 
ment of a navy worthy to support the great naval traditions of 
the United States, and fully equal to the international tasks 
which the United States hopes and expects to take part in per¬ 
forming. The plans and enactments of the present Congress 
afford substantial proof of our purpose in this exigent matter. 

International Relations. The Democratic administra¬ 
tion has throughout the present war scrupulously and success¬ 
fully held to the old paths of neutrality and of the peaceful pur¬ 
suit of the legitimate objects of our national life, which states¬ 
men of all parties and creeds have prescribed for themselves in 
America since the beginning of our history. But the circum¬ 
stances of the last two years have revealed necessities of inter¬ 
national action which no former generation can have foreseen. 
We hold that it is the duty of the United States to use its power, 
not only to make itself safe at home, but also to make secure 
its just interests throughout the world, and both for this end 
and in the interest of humanity, to assist the world in securing 
settled peace and justice. We believe that every people has 
the right to choose the sovereignty under which it shall live; 
that the small States of the world have, a right to enjoy from 
other nations the same respect for their sovereignty and for 
their territorial integrity that great and powerful nations expect 
and insist upon; and that the world has a right to be free from 
every disturbance of its peace that has its origin in aggression or 
disregard of the rights of peoples and nations; and we believe 
that the time has come when it is the duty of the United States 


to join with the other nations of the world in any feasible asso¬ 
ciation that will effectively serve these principles, to maintain 
inviolate the complete security of the highway of the seas for 
the common and unhindered use of all nations. 

The present Administration has consistently sought to act 
upon and realize in its conduct of the foreign affairs of the 
nation the principle that should be the object of any association 
of the nations formed to secure the peace of the world and the 
maintenance of national and individual rights. It has followed 
the highest American traditions. It has preferred respect for 
the fundamental rights of smaller States, even to property 
interests, and has secured the friendship of the people of these 
States for the United States by refusing to make a more material 
interest an excuse for the assertion of our superior power against 
the dignity of their sovereign independence. It has regarded the 
lives of its citizens and the claims of humanity as of greater 
moment than material rights,, and peace as the best basis for 
the just settlement of commercial claims. It has made the honor 
and ideals of the United States its standard alike in negotiation 
and action. 

Pan-American Accord. We recognize now, as we have 
always recognized, a definite and common interest between the 
United States with the other peoples and republics of the 
Western Hemisphere in all matters of national independence 
and free political development. We favor the establishment and 
maintenance of the closest relations of amity and mutual help¬ 
fulness between the United States and the other republics of the 
American Continents for the support of peace and the promotion 
of a common prosperity. To that end we favor all measures 
which may be fiecessary to facilitate intimate intercourse and 
promote commerce between the United States and her neigh¬ 
bors to the south of us, and such international understandings 
as may be practicable and suitable to accomplish these ends. 

We commend the action of the Democratic Administration in 
holding the Pan-American Financial conference at Washington 
in May, 1915, and organizing the International High Com¬ 
mission, which represented the United States in the recent 
meeting of representatives of the Latin-American republics at 
Buenos Ayres, April, 1916, which have so greatly promoted the 
friendly relations between the people of the Western Hemi¬ 
sphere. 

Mexico. The Monroe Doctrine is reasserted as a principle 
of Democratic faith. That doctrine guarantees the independent 
republics of the two Americas against aggression from another 
continent. It implies, as well, the most scrupulous regard upon 
our part for the sovereignty of each of them. The want of a 
stable, responsible Government in Mexico, capable of repressing 
and punishing marauders and bandit bands, who have not only 
taken the lives and seized and destroyed the property of Amer¬ 
ican citizens in that country, but have insolently invaded our 
soil, made war upon and murdered our people thereon, has 
rendered it necessary temporarily to occupy, by our armed 
forces, a portion of the territory of that friendly State. Until, 
by the restoration of law and order therein, a repetition of such 
incursions is improbable, the necessity for their remaining will 
continue. Intervention, implying as it does military subjuga¬ 
tion, is revolting to the people of the United States, notwith¬ 
standing the provocation to that course has been great, and 
should be resorted to, if at all, only as a last resort. The stub¬ 
born resistance of the President and . his advisers to every 
demand and suggestion to enter upon it, is credible alike to them 
and to the people in whose name he speaks. 

Merchant Marine. Immediate provision should be made 
for the development of the carrying trade of the United States. 
Our foreign commerce has in the past been subject to many 
unnecessary and vexatious obstacles in the way of legislation of 
Republican Congresses. Until the recent Democratic tariff 
legislation it was hampered by unreasonable burdens of taxation. 
Until the recent banking legislation, it had at its disposal few 
of the necessary instrumentalities of international credit and 
exchange. Until the formulation of the pending act to promote 
the construction of a merchant marine it lacked even the 
prospect of adequate carriage by sea. We heartily indorse the 
purposes and policy of the pending shipping bill and favor all 
such additional measures of constructive or remedial legislation 
as may be necessary to restore our flag to the seas and to provide 
further facilities for our foreign commerce, particularly such 
laws as may be made to remove unfair conditions of competition 
in the dealings of American merchants and producers with com¬ 
petitors in foreign markets. 

Conservation. For the safeguarding and quickening of 
the life of our own people we favor the conservation and 
development of the natural resources of the country through a 
policy which shall be positive rather than negative—a policy 
which shall not withhold such resources from development but 
which, while permitting and encouraging their use, shall prevent 
both waste and monopoly in their exploitation, and we earnestly 
favor the passage of acts which will accomplish these objects 



8 


NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM—1916 


and we reaffirm the declaration of the platform of 1912 on this 
subject. The policy of reclaiming our arid lands should be 
steadily adhered to. 

The Administration and the Farmer. We favor the 
vigorous prosecution of investigations and plans to render agri¬ 
culture more profitable and country life more healthful, com¬ 
fortable and attractive, and we believe that this should be a 
dominant aim of the nation as well as of the States. With all its 
recent improvement, farming still lags behind other occupations 
in development as a business, and the advantages of an advanc¬ 
ing civilization have not accrued to rural communities in a fair 
proportion. Much has been accomplished in this field under the 
present Administration—far more than under any previous 
Administration. In the Federal Reserve act of the last Congress, 
and the Rural Credits act of the present Congress, the machinery 
has been created which will make credit available to the farmer 
constantly and readily and he has at last been put upon a footing 
of equality with the merchant and the manufacturer in securing 
the capital necessary to carry on his enterprises. Grades and 
standards necessary to the intelligent and successful conduct of 
the business of agriculture have also been established, or are in 
the course of establishment by law. 

The long-needed Cotton Futures act, passed by the Sixty- 
third Congress, has now been in successful operation for nearly 
two years. A Grain Grades bill, long needed, and a permissive 
Warehouse bill, intended to provide better storage facilities and 
to enable the farmer to obtain certificates upon which he may 
secure advances of money, have been passed by the House of 
Representatives, have been favorably reported to the Senate 
and will probably become law during the present session of the 
Congress. Both houses have passed a good roads measure, which 
will be of far-reaching benefit to all agricultural communities. 
Above all, the most extraordinary and significant progress has 
been made, under the direction of the Department of Agriculture 
in extending and perfecting practical farm demonstration work 
which is so rapidly substituting scientific for empirical farming. 
But it is also necessary that rural activities should be better 
directed through co-operation and organization, that unfair 
methods of. competition should be eliminated and the condi¬ 
tions requisite for the just, orderly, and economical marketing of 
farm products created. 

We approve the Democratic Administration for having em¬ 
phatically directed attention for the first time to the essential 
interests of agriculture involved in farm marketing and finance, 
for creating the office of markets and rural organization in 
connection with the Department of Agriculture and for extend¬ 
ing the co-operative machinery necessary for conveying infor¬ 
mation to farmers by means of demonstrations. We favor con¬ 
tinued liberal provision, not only for the benefit of production, 
but also for the study and solution of problems of farm market¬ 
ing and finance and for the extension of existing agencies for 
improving country life. 

Good Roads. The happiness, comfort and prosperity of 
rural life, and the development of the city, are alike conserved 
by the construction of public.highways. We, therefore, favor 
national aid in the construction of post roads and roads for 
military purposes. 

Government Employment. We hold that life, health, 
and strength of the men, women, and children of the nation are 
its greatest asset and that in the conservation of these the 
Federal Government, wherever it acts as the employer of labor, 
should both on its own account and as an example, put into 
effect the following principles of just employment: 

1. A living wage for all employes. 

2. A working day not to exceed eight hours, with one day of 
rest in seven. 

3. The adoption of safety appliances and the establishment 
of thoroughly sanitary conditions of labor. 

4. Adequate compensation for industrial accidents. 

5. The standards of the “Uniform Child Labor Law,” 
wherever minors are employed. 

6. Such provisions for decency, comfort, and health in the 
employment of women as should be accorded the mothers of the 
race. 

7. An equitable retirement law providing for the retirement 
of superannuated and disabled employes of trie civil service to 
the end that a higher standard of efficiency may be maintained. 

We believe also that the adoption of similar principles should 
be urged and applied in the legislation of the States with regard 
to labor within their borders, and that through every possible 
agency the life and health of the people of the nation should be 
conserved. 

Labor. We declare our faith in the Seamen’s act, passed by 
the Democratic Congress, and we promise our earnest contin¬ 
uance of its enforcement. 

We favor the speedy enactment of an effective Federal Child 
Labor law and the regulation of the shipment of prison-made 
goods in interstate commerce. 


We favor the creation of a Federal bureau of safety in the 
Department of Labor, to gather facts concerning industrial 
hazards and to recommend legislation concernimr the maiming 
and killing of human beings. 

We favor the extension of the powers and functions of the 
Federal Bureau of Mines. 

We favor the development upon a systematic scale of the 
means already begun under the present Administration to 
assist laborers throughout the nation to seek and obtain em¬ 
ployment, and the extension by the Federal Government of the 
same assistance and encouragement as is now given to agricul¬ 
tural training. 

We heartily commend our newly established Department of 
Labor for its excellent record in settling industrial strikes by 
personal advices and through conciliating agents.. 

Public Health. We favor a thorough reconsideration of 
the means and methods by which the Federal Government 
handles questions of public health, to the end that human life 
may be conserved by the elimination of loathsome diseases, the 
improvement of sanitation and the diffusion of a knowledge of 
disease prevention. , 

We favor the establishment by the Federal Government of 
tuberculosis sanatariums for needy tubercular patients. 

Senate Rules. We favor such an alteration of the rules 
of procedure of the Senate of the United States as will permit 
the prompt transaction of the nation’s legislative business. 

Economy and the Budget. We demand careful econ¬ 
omy in all expenditures for the support of the Government, and 
to that end favor a return by the House of Representatives 
to its former practice of initiating and preparing all appropria¬ 
tion bills through a single committee chosen from its mem¬ 
bership, in order that responsibility may be centred, expendi¬ 
tures standardized and made uniform, and waste and dupli¬ 
cation in the public service as much as possible avoided. We 
favor this as a practicable first step toward a budget system. 

Civil Service. W T e reaffirm our declarations for the 
rigid enforcement of the civil service laws. 

Philippine Islands. We heartily indorse the provisions 
of the bill recently passed by the House of Representatives, 
further promoting self-government in the Philippine Islands 
as being in fulfillment of the policy declared by the Democratic 
Party in its last national platform, and we reiterate our indorse¬ 
ment of the purpose of ultimate independence for the Philip¬ 
pine Islands, expressed in the preamble of that measure. 

Woman Suffrage. We recommend the extension of the 
franchise to the women of the country by the States upon the 
same terms as to men. 

Protection of Citizens. We again declare the policy 
that the sacred rights of American citizenship must be pre¬ 
served at home and abroad, and that no treaty with any other 
Government shall receive the sanction of our Government 
which does not expressly recognize the absolute equality of 
all our citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or previous national¬ 
ity, and which does not recognize the right of expatriation. 
The American Government should protect American citizens 
in their rights not only at home but abroad, and any country 
having a Government, shpuld be held to strict accountability 
for any wrongs done them, either to person or property. At 
the earliest practical opportunity, our country should strive 
earnestly for peace among the warring nations of Europe and 
seek to bring about the adoption of the fundamental principle 
of justice and humanity, that all men shall enjoy equality of 
right and freedom from discrimination in the lands wherein 
they dwell. 

Prison Reform. We demand that the modern prin¬ 
ciples of prison reform be applied in our Federal penal system. 
We favor such work for prisoners as shall give them training 
in remunerative occupations, so that they may make an honest 
living when released from prison; the setting apart of the net 
wages of the prisoner to be paid to his dependent family or 
to be reserved for his own use upon his release; the liberal exten¬ 
sion of the principles of the Federal Parole law, with due re¬ 
gard both to the welfare of the prisoner and the interests of 
society; the adoption of the probation system, especially in 
the case of first offenders not convicted of serious crimes. 

Pensions. We renew the declarations of recent Demo¬ 
cratic platforms relating to generous pensions for soldiers and 
their widows, and call attention to our record of performance 
in this particular. 

Waterways and Flood Control. We renew the 
declaration in our last two platforms relating to the develop¬ 
ment of our waterways. The recent devastation of the Lower 
Mississippi Valley and several other sections by floods accentu¬ 
ates the movement for the regulation of river flow by addi¬ 
tional bank and levee protection below and diversion, storage, 
"and control of the flood waters above, and their utilization 
for beneficial purposes in the reclamation of arid and swamp 
lands, and development of water power, instead of permitting 



NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM—1916 


tj\ e to continue as heretofore, agents of destruction. 

We hold that the control of the Mississippi River is a national 
problem. The preservation of the depth of its waters for pur¬ 
poses of navigation, the building of levees and works of bank 
protection to maintain the integrity of its channel and prevent 
the overflow of its valley resulting in the interruption of inter¬ 
state commerce, the disorganization of the mail service and the 
enormous loss of life and property, impose an obligation which 
alone can be discharged by the national Government. 

We favor the adoption of a liberal and comprehensive plan 
for the development and improvement of our harbors and inland 
waterways with economy and efficiency, so as to permit their 
navigation by vessels of standard draught. 

Alaska. It has been and will be the policy of the Demo¬ 
cratic Party to enact all laws necessary for the speedy develop¬ 
ment of. Alaska and its great natural resources. 

Territories. We favor granting to the people of Alaska, 
Hawaii, and Porto Rico the traditional Territorial Government 
accorded to all Territories of the United States since the be¬ 
ginning of our Government and we believe the officials appointed 
to administer the Government of those several Territories 
should be qualified by previous bona fide residence. 

Candidates. We unreservedly indorse our President 


and Vice President, Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey and Thomas 
Riley Marshall of Indiana, who have performed the functions 
of their great offices faithfully and impartially and with dis¬ 
tinguished ability. 

In particular, we commend to the American people the 
splendid diplomatic victories of our great President, who has 
preserved the vital interests of our Government and its citizens, 
and kept us out of war. 

Woodrow Wilson stands today the greatest American of his 
generation. 

Conclusion. This is a critical hour in the history of 
America, a critical hour in the history of the world. Upon 
the record above set forth which shows great constructive 
achievement in following out a consistent policy for our domestic 
and internal development; upon the record of the Democratic 
Administration, which has maintained the honor, the dignity, 
and the interests of the United States, and at the same time 
retained the respect and friendship of all the nations of the 
world, and upon the great policies for the future strengthening 
of the life of our country, the enlargement of our national 
vision and the ennobling of our international relations, as set 
forth above, we appeal with confidence to the voters of the 
country. 


PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1916 

On November 7th, 1916, next president and vice-president of 
the United States will be chosen. As is well known, these 
officials are not elected directly by the people, but by electors, 
who are voted for on the party tickets on the date named. The 
chosen electors meet on the second Monday in January following 
their election in their respective states, and vote by ballot for 
president and vice-president of the United States. The result is 
transmitted to the president of the senate. On the second 
Wednesday in February, succeeding the meeting of the electors, 
the electoral votes are opened and counted in the presence of 
both houses of Congress, and the result is announced by the 
president of the senate. While the actual choice for president 
and vice-president is to be made in 1916, the officers are for¬ 
mally elected in 1917. In the spring and summer of this year, 
the national party conventions were held for the nomination 
of candidates for president and vice-president of the United 
States for the term beginning March 4th, 1917. These conven¬ 
tions are not \ rovided for by the constitution, but it has become 
the invariable rule that the candidates presented by them are 
voted for by the presidential electors. The latter are nominated 
at the state party conventions or primaries, and are elected on 
the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of every 
fourth year preceding the end of the presidential term. Each 
state is entitled to as many electors as it has senators and 
representatives. No senator or representative, or person holding 
an office of trust or honor under the United States, may be an 
elector. The Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution pre¬ 
scribes how electors shall meet and cast their ballots, and how 
Congress shall count the votes. 


ORDER OF PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION 

In case of the removal, death, resignation or inability of both 
the president and vice-president, then the secretary of state 
shall act as president until the disability of the president or 
vice-president is removed or a president is elected. The rest of 
the order of succession is- Secretary of the treasury, secretary of 
war, attorney-general, postmaster-general, secretary of the 
navy, secretary of the interior, secretary of agriculture, 
secretary of commerce and secretary of labor. The acting pres¬ 
ident, in case congress is not in session, must call a special 
session, giving twenty days’ notice. 


STATE ELECTION CALENDAR 

Gubernatorial if not otherwise specified 

Alabama—Every fourth year. Next election Nov. 5, 1918. 
Arizona—Biennially; first Tuesday after first Monday in 
November. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

Arkansas—Biennially; second Monday in September. Next 
election Sept. 11, 1916. 

California—Every fourth year. Next election Nov. 5, 1918. 
Colorado—Biennially. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 
Connecticut—State officers except attorney-general, biennially; 
attorney-general quadrennially. Next election Nov. 7, 
1916. 

Delaware—Every fourth year. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 
Florida—Every fourth year. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 
Georgia—Biennially. Next election Nov. 7,1916. 


Idaho—Biennially. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

Illinois—Governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of state, 
auditor and attorney-general every fourth year. Next elec¬ 
tion Nov. 7, 1916. State treasurer biennially. Next election 
Nov. 7, 1916. 

Indiana—Governor, every fourth year. Next election Nov. 7, 
1916. Other state officers biennially. Next election Nov. 7, 
1916. 

Iowa—Governor, lieutenant-governor, superintendent of in¬ 
struction, one justice of the Supreme court and one railroad 
commissioner biennially. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

Kansas—Biennially. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

Kentucky—Every fourth year. Next election Nov. 4, 1919. 

Louisiana—Every fourth year; third Tuesday in April. Next 
election April 18, 1920. 

Maine—Biennially; second Monday in September. Next elec¬ 
tion Sept. 11, 1916. 

Maryland—Every fourth year. Next election Nov. 2, 1919. 

Massachusetts—Annually. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

Michigan—Biennially. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

Minnesota—Biennially. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

Mississippi—Every fourth year. Next election Nov. 2, 1919. 

Missouri—Principal state officers every fourth year. Next 
election of governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of state, 
auditor, treasurer and attorney-general Nov. 7, 1916. 

Montana—Every fourth year. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

Nebraska—Biennially. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

Nevada—Every fourth year. Next election Nov. 5, 1918. 

New Hampshire—Biennially. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

New Jersey—Governor every third year, other officers ap¬ 
pointed. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

New Mexico—Every fourth year; on Tuesday after the first 
Monday in November. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

New York—Biennially. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. • 

North Carolina—Every fourth year. Next election Nov. 7, 
1916. 

North Dakota—Biennially. Next election Nov. 7,1916. 

Ohio—Governor, lieutenant-governor, state treasurer and 
attorney-general biennially. Next election Nov. 2, 1917. 
Secretary of state and dairy and food commissioner biennially. 
Next “lection Nov. 7, 1916. Auditor every fourth year. 
Next election Nov. 4, 1919. 

Oklahoma—Every fourth year. Next election Nov. 5, 1918. 

Oregon—Every fourth year. Next election Nov. 5, 1918. 

Pennsylvania—Governor, lieutenant-governor and secretary of 
internal affairs every fourth year. Next election Nov. 5, 1918. 
State treasurer biennially. Next election Nov. 4, 1919. 
Other officials appointed. 

Rhode Island—Biennially. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

South Carolina—Biennially. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

South Dakota—Biennially. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

Tennessee—Biennially. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

Texas—Biennially. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

Utah—Every fourth year. Next .flection Nov 7, 1916. 

Vermont—Biennially; first Tuesday in September. Next elec¬ 
tion Sept. 5, 1916. 

Virginia—Every fourth year. Next election Nov. 6, 1917. 

Washington—Every fourth year. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

West Virginia—Every fourth year. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

Wisconsin—Biennially. Next election Nov. 7, 1916. 

Wyoming—Every fourth year. Next election Nov. 5, 
1918. 









10 


VOTE FOR PRESIDENT 


VOTE FOR PRESIDENT, 1912 


State 


ELECTORAL 

VOTE. 


Alabama. 

Arizona. 

Arkansas. 

California. 

Colorado. 

Connecticut 

Delaware. 

Florida. 

Georgia. 

Idaho. 

Illinois. 

Indiana. 

Iowa. 

Kansas. 

Kentucky. 

Louisiana. 

Maine. 

Maryland. 

Massachusetts. . 

Michigan.. 

Minnesota.. 

Mississippi. 

Missouri. 

Montana.. 

Nebraska. 

Nevada. 

New Hampshire 
New Jersey. 
New Mexico... 

New York. 

North Carolina. 
North Dakota.. 

Ohio. 

Oklahoma. 

Oregon. 

Pennsylvania. . 
Rhode Island. . 
South Carolina. 
South Dakota.. 

Tennessee.. 

Texas. 

Utah. 

Vermont.. 

Virginia. 

Washington.... 
West Virginia.. 

Wisconsin. 

Wyoming. 


Re¬ 

pub¬ 

lican. 


Dem¬ 

ocrat¬ 

ic. 


Pro¬ 

gres¬ 

sive. 


12 

3 

9 

2 

6 

7 

3 
6 

14 

4 

29 

15 
13 
10 
13 
10 

6 

8 
18 


11 


10 

18 

4 

8 

3 

4 
14 

3 

45 

12 

5 
24 
10 

5 


15 

12 





Total 


435 


88 


Plurality 


339 


POPULAR VOTE. 

Republi¬ 

can. 

Democrat. 

Progres¬ 

sive 

Prohibi¬ 

tion. 

Socialist. 

Socialist 

Labor. 

Total.* 

9 732 

82 438 

22,680 


3,029 


117,879 

3J)21 

10'324 

6,949 

265 

3,163 


23,722 

24,467 

68,838 

21,673 

898 

8,153 


124,029 

3,914 

283,436 

283,610 

23,366 

79,201 


673,527 

58,386 

114,232 

72,306 

5,063 

16,418 

475 

266,880 

68,324 

74,561 

34,129 

2,068 

10,056 

1,260 

190,398 

1 5 997 

22 631 

8 886 

623 

556 


48,693 

4,279 

36',417 

4,535 

1,854 

4,806 


51,891 

5,191 

93,076 

21,980 

147 

1,026 


121,420 

32,810 

33,921 

25,527 

1,537 

11,960 


105,755 

253,593 

405,048 

386,478 

15,710 

81,278 

4,066 

1,146,173 

151,267 

281,890 

162,007 

19,249 

36,931 

3,130 

654,474 

119,805 

185,325 

161,819 

8,440 

16,967 


492,356 

74 845 

143 663 

120,210 


26,779 


481,009 

115,512 

219,584 

102^766 

3,233 

11,647 

956 

338,186 

3 834 

60,971 

9,323 


5,249 


79,377 

26,545 

51,113 

48,495 

946 

2,541 


129,640 

54,956 

112,674 

57,789 

2,244 

3,996 

322 

231,981 

155,948 

173,408 

142,228 

2,754 

12,616 

1,102 

488,056 

152,244 

150,751 

214,584 

8,934 

23,211 

1,252 

550,976 

64,334 

106,426 

125,856 

7,886 

27,505 

2,212 

334,219 

1 595 

57,227 

3,645 


2,061 


64,528 

207,821 

330,746 

124,371 

5,380 

28,466 

1,778 

698,562 

18,512 

27,941 

22,456 

32 

10,885 


79,826 

54,029 

109,008 

72,614 

3,383 

10,174 


249,208 

3 196 

7,986 

5,620 


3,313 


20,115 

32,927 

34,724 

17,794 

535 

L980 


87,960 

88,834 

170,282 

145,409 

2,875 

15,900 

1,322 

424,622 

17,900 

22,139 

8,347 


2,859 


51.245 

455,428 

655,475 

390,021 

19,427 

63,381 

4,251 

1,587,983 

29,139 

144,507 

69,667 

1,025 

117 


244,455 

23,090 

29,555 

25,726 

1,243 

6,966 


86,580 

278,168 

424,834 

229,807 

11,511 

90,144 

2,630 

1,037.094 

90 786 

119,156 


2,185 

41,674 

- 

253,801 

34,673 

47,064 

37,600 

4,360 

13,343 


137,040 

273,305 

395,619 

447,426 

19,533 

80,915 

704 

1,217,502 

27,703 

30,412 

16,878 

616 

2,049 

236 

77,894 

536 

48,357 

1,293 


164 


50,350 


48,942 

58,811 

3,910 

4,662 


116,325 

59,444 

130,335 

53,725 

825 

3,492 


247,821 

26,745 

219,489 

28,530 

1,698 

24,896 

430 

301,788 

42,100 

36,579 

24,174 


9,023 

509 

112,385 

23,332 

15,354 

22,132 

1,095 

928 


62,841 

23,288 

90,332 

21,777 

709 

820 

50 

136,976 

70,445 

86,840 

113,698 

9,810 

40,134 

1,872 

322,799 

56,667 

1 13,046 

78,977 

4,534 

15,336 


268,560 

130,695 

164,228 

62,460 

8,586 

33,481 

522 

399,972 

14,560 

15,310 

9,232 

434 

2,760 


42,296 

3,483,922 

6,286,214 

4,126,020 

208,923 

897,011 

29,079 

15,031,169 


2,160,194 













*Figures do not include blank or void ballots or votes cast for names not appearing on any of the electoral tickets specified 
in the table. 

THE MONROE DOCTRINE 


The Monroe Doctrine received its name from President 
Monroe because of the following statement of policy which he 
made in his message to congress, Dec. 2, 1823: 

“In the discussions to which this interest has given rise, 
[referring to steps taken to arrange the respective rights of 
Russia, England and the United States on the north-west coast 
of this continent], and in the arrangements by which they may 
terminate, the occasion has been deemed proper for asserting, 
as a principle in which the rights and interests of the United 
States are involved, that the American continents, by the free 
and independent condition which they have assumed and main¬ 
tain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future 


colonization by any European power. * * * We owe it, there¬ 
fore, to candor and to the amicable relations existing between 
the United States and those powers to declare that we should 
consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any 
portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety. 
With the existing colonies or dependencies of any European 
power we have not interfered and shall not interfere. But with 
the governments who have declared their independence and 
maintain it, and whose independence we have, on great con¬ 
sideration and on just principles, acknowledged, we could not 
view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing them or 
controlling in any other manner their destiny by any European 
power in any other light than as the manifestation of an un¬ 
friendly disposition toward the United States.” 






























































































































































































VOTE FOR PRESIDENT 


11 


VOTE FOR PRESIDENT, 1908, 1904, 1900 


State 

1908 

1904 

1900 

El. Vote 

Popular Vote 

El. Vote 

Popular Vote 

El. Vote 

Popular Vote 

Taft, 

Rep. 

Bryan, 

Dem. 

Taft, 

Rep. 

Bryan, 

Dem. 

Debs, 

Soc. 

Roosevelt, 

Rep. 

Parker, 

Dem. 

Roosevelt, 

Rep. 

Parker, 

Dem. 

McKinley, 

Rep. 

Bryan, 

Dem. 

McKinley, 

Rep. 

Bryan, 

Dem. 

Alabama. 


11 

25,308 

74,374 

1,399 


11 

22,472 

79,857 


11 

55,634 

96,368 

Arkansas. 


9 

56,760 

87,015 

5,842 


9 

46,860 

64,434 


8 

44,770 

81,091 

California. 

io 


214,398 

127,492 

28,659 

10 


205,226 

89,404 

9 


164,755 

124,985 

Colorado. 


5 

123,700 

126,644 

7,974 

5 


134,687 

100,105 


4 

93,039 

122,733 

Connecticut. 

7 


112,915 

68,255 

5,113 

7 


111,089 

72,909 

6 


102,572 

74,014 

Delaware. 

3 


25,014 

' 22,071 

239 

3 


23,712 

19,359 

3 


22,535 

18,863 

Florida. 


5 

10,654 

31.104 

3,747 


5 

8,314 

27,046 


4 

7,314 

28,007 

Georgia. 


13 

41,692 

72,413 

584 


13 

24,003 

83,472 


13 

35,056 

81,700 

Idaho. 

3 


52,621 

36,162 

6,400 

3~ 


47,783 

18,480 


3 

27,198 

29,414 

Illinois. 

27 


629,929 

450,795 

34,691 

27 


632,645 

327,606 

24 


597,985 

503,061 

Indiana. 

15 


348,993 

338,262 

13,476 

15 


368,289 

274,345 

15 


336,063 

309,584 

Iowa. 

13 


275,210 

200,771 

8,287 

13 


307,907 

149,141 

13 

. # 

307,808 

209,265 

Kansas. 

10 


197,216 

161,209 

12,420 

10 


212,955 

86,174 

10 


185,955 

162,601 

Kentucky. 


13 

235,711 

244,092 

4,060 


13 

205,277 

217,170 

# # 

13 

226,801 

234,899 

Louisiana. 


9 

8,958 

63,568 

2,538 


9 

5,205 

47,708 


8 

14,233 

53,671 

Maine. 

6 


66,987 

35,403 

1,758 

6 


64,438 

27,648 

6 


65,435 

36,823 

Maryland. 

2 

6 

116,513 

115,908 

2,323 

1 

7 

109,497 

109,446 

8 


136,185 

122,237 

Massachusetts. . . 

16 


265,966 

155,543 

10,781 

16 


257,882 

165,772 

15 


239,147 

157,016 

Michigan. 

14 


335,580 

175,771 

11,586 

14 


364,957 

135,392 

14 


316,269 

211,685 

Minnesota. 

11 


195,843 

109,401 

14,527 

11 


216,651 

55,187 

9 


190,461 

112,901 

Mississippi. 


io 

4,363 

60,287 

978 


10 

3,187 

53,374 


9 

5,753 

51,706 

Missouri. 

18 


347,203 

346,574 

15,431 

18 


321,449 

296,312 


17 

314,092 

351,922 

Montana. 

3 


32,333 

29,326 

5,855 

3 


34,932 

21,773 

. . 

3 

25,373 

37,145 

Nebraska. 


8 

126,997 

131,099 

3,524 

8 


138,558 

52,921 

8 


121,835 

114,013 

Nevada. 


3 

10,775 

11,212 

2,103 

3 


6,864 

3,982 


3 

3,849 

6,347 

New Hampshire.. 

4 


53,149 

33,655 

1,299 

4 


54,180 

33,995 

4 


54,798 

35,489 

New Jersey. 

12 


265.326 

182,567 

10,253 

12 


245,164 

164,567 

10 


221,754 

164,879 

New York. 

39 


870,070 

667,468 

38,451 

39 


859,533 

683,981 

36 


822,013 

678,425 

North Carolina.. . 


12 

114,937 

136,995 

378 


i2 

82,625 

124,121 

, . 

ii 

133,081 

157,752 

North Dakota.... 

4 


57,680 

32,885 

2,421 

4 


52,595 

14,273 

3 


35,898 

20,531 

Ohio. 

23 


572,312 

502,721 

33,795 

23 


600,095 

344,940 

23 


543,918 

474,882 



7 

110 474 

122 363 

21,734 









Oregon. 

4 


62^530 

38,049 

7,339 

4 


60,455 

17,521 

4 


46,526 

33,385 

Pennsylvania. . . . 

34 


745,779 

448,778 

33,913 

34 


840,949 

337,998 

32 


712,665 

424,232 

Rhode Island. . . . 

4 


43,942 

24,706 

1,365 

4 


41,605 

24,839 

4 


33,784 

19,812 

South Carolina.. . 


9 

3,965 

62,290 

100 


9 

2,554 

52,563 

. . 

9 

3,579 

47,283 

South Dakota... . 

4 


67,536 

40,266 

2,846 

4 


72,083 

21,969 

4 


54,530 

39,544 

Tennessee. 


12 

118,324 

135,608 

1,870 


i2 

105,369 

131,653 

. . 

n 

123,180 

145,356 

Texas. 


18 

65,666 

217,302 

7,870 


18 

51,242 

167,200 

. . 

15 

130,641 

267,432 

Utah. 

3 


61,028 

42,601 

4,895 

3 


62,446 

33,413 

3 


47,089 

45,006 


4 


39,552 

11,496 


4 


40,459 

9,777 

4 


42,569 

12,849 

Virginia. 


12 

52,573 

82,946 

255 


i2 

47,880 

80,648 


12 

115,865 

146,080 

Washington. 

5 


106,062 

58,691 

14,177 

5 


101,540 

28,098 

4 


57,456 

44,833 

West Virginia. . . . 

7 


137,869 

111,418 

3,679 

7 


132,628 

100,881 

6 


119,829 

98,807 

Wisconsin. 

13 


247,747 

166,632 

28,170 

13 


280,164 

124,107 

12 

. . 

265,756 

159,279 

Wyoming. 

3 


20,846 

14,918 

1,715 

3 


20,489 

8,930 

3 


14,482 

10,164 

Total. 

321 

162 

7,679,006 

6,409,106 

420,820 

336 

140 

7,628,894’ 

5,084,491 

292 

155 

7,219,530 

5,358,071 

Plurality. 

159 

. . 

1,269,900 


...... 

196 


2,544,343 


137 


861,459, 



POLITICAL PARTY LINES IN CONGRESS SINCE FORTY-SEVENTH SESSION 


Congress 

Years 

Senate 

House 

Congress 

Years 

Senate 

House 

Rep. 

Dem. 

Ind. 

Rep. 

Dem. 

Ind. 

Rep. 

Dem. 

Ind. 

Rep. 

Dem. 

Ind 

47th 

1881-1883 

37 

38 

1 

146 

138 

10 

56th. 

1899-1901 

53 

26 

11 

185 

163 

9 

aRth 

1883-1885 

40 

36 


124 

198 

1 

57th. 

1901-1903 

56 

29 

3 

198 

153 

5 


1885-1887 

42 

34 


120 

204 

1 

58th. 

1903-1905 

58 

32 


206 

174 

2 

. 

CHf u 

1887 1889 

39 

37 


153 

168 

4 

59th. 

1905-1907 

58 

32 


250 

136 

.... 


1889 1891 

39 

37 


166 

159 


60th. 

1907-1909 

61 

29 


222 

164 

.... 

j I SL . 

1891-1893 

47 

39 

2 

88 

236 

8 

61st. 

1909-1911 

59 

33 


219 

172 

.... 


1891 1895 

38 

44 

3 

126 

220 

8 

62nd. 

1911-1913 

49 

42 


162 

228 

*2 

S4fh 

1895-1897 

42 

39 

5 

246 

104 

7 

63 rd. 

1913-1915 

44 

51 

tl 

127 

291 

17 

55th. 

1897-1899 

46 

34 

10 

206 

134 

16 

64th. 

1915- 

39 

56 

tl 

199 

232 

19 


* One Socialist. t Progressive. J 7 Progressives, 1 Independent, 1 Socialist 















































































































































































































12 


VOTE FOR PRESIDENT 




PRESIDENTIAL 

VOTE 1860- 

Year and 


Total 

Elect. 

Year and 

Party 

Candidate and State 

Vote 

Vote 

Party 

1860 

Rep. 

Abraham Lincoln, Ill. 

. . 1,866,352 

180 

1892 

Dem. 

Dem. 

Stephen A. Douglas, Ill... . 

. . 1,375,157 

12 

Rep. 

Dem. 

J. C. Breckenridge, Ky. 

.. 845,763 

72 

Peop. 

Union. 

John Bell, Tenn. 

. . . 589,581 

39 

Prohib. 

1864 

Rep. 

Abraham Lincoln, Ill. 

. .. 2,216,067 

*212 

Soc. Lab... 
1896 

Dem. 

George B. McClellan, N. J. 

... 1,808,725 

21 

Rep. 

Dem. 

1868 

Rep. 

U. S. Grant, Ill. 

... 3,015,071 

|214 

Peop. 

Prohib. 

Dem. 

Horatio Seymour, N. Y.... 

... 2,709,615 

80 

Nat.-Dem.. 

1872 

Rep. 

U. S. Grant, Ill... 

... 3,597,070 

286 

Soc. Lab... 

Nat. 

1900 

D.&Lib.R. 

Horace Greeley, N. Y. 

Charles O’Conor, N. Y. .. . 

. . . 2,834,079 


Rep. 

Dem 

Dem. 

29,408 


Temp. 

James Black, Pa. 

5,608 


Prohib. 


Candidate and State 


Ben. Harrison, Ind. 

James B. Weaver, Iowa. 

John Bidwell, Cal. 

Simon Wing, Mass. 


Bryan, Neb. 
Bryan, Neb. 


John M. Palmer, Ill. 

Charles H. Matchett, N. 
Charles E. Bentley, Neb. 


Y. 


1876 

Rep. 

Dem. 

Greenback. 
Prohib.... 
Amer. 

1880 

Rep. 

Dem. 

Greenback 
Prohib.... 
Amer. 


1884 

Dem. 

Rep. 

Prohib. 

Greenback 

1888 

Rep. 

Dem. 

Prohib. 

U. Labor.., 
United L.. . 

Amer. 

Soc. 


Rutherford B. Hayes, O_ 4,033,950 

Samuel J. Tilden, N. Y. 4,284,885 

Peter Cooper, N. Y. 81,740 

Green Clay Smith, Ky. 9,522 

James B. Walker, Ill. 2,636 

James A. Garfield, Ohio. ... 4,449,053 

W. S. Hancock, Pa. 4,442,030 

James B. Weaver, Iowa. 307,306 

Neal Dow, Me. 10,305 

John W. Phelps, Vt..... 707 

Grover Cleveland, N. Y_ 4,911,017 

James G. Blaine, Me. 4,848,334 

John P. St. John, Kan. 151,809 

Benj. F. Butler, Mass. 133,825 


Benjamin Harrison, Ind. 
Grover Cleveland, N. Y... 

Clinton B. Fisk, N. J. 

A. J. Streeter, Ill. 

R. H. Cowdry, Ill. 

Jas. L. Curtis, N. Y. 


5,444,337 
5,540,050 
250,125 
146,897 
2,808 
1,591 
2,063 

1 States not voting possessed an electoral vote of 81. 


185 

184 


214 

155 


219 
182 


233 

168 


Y.. 


hn G. Woolley, Ill. 

A.-F.Peop.. Wharton Barker, Pa. 

Soc. Dem. . Eugene V. Debs, Ind. ... 

Soc. L.Jos. F. Malloney, Mass.. 

U. Christian J. F. R. Leonard, Iowa.. 

U. Reform Seth H. Ellis, Ohio. 

1904 

Rep. Theodore Roosevelt, N 

Dem. Alton B. Parker, N. Y. 

Soc. Eugene V. Debs, Ind. 

Prohib. Silas C. Swallow, Pa.. 

Peop. Thomas E. Watson, Ga. 

Soc. L. Charles H. Corregan, N. Y... 

1908 

Rep. William H. Taft, Ohio. 

Dem. William J. Bryan, Neb. 

Soc. Eugene V. Debs, Ind. 

Prohib. Eugene W. Chafin, 111. 

Ind. League. Thos. L. Hisgen, Mass. 

Peop. Thos. E. Watson, Ga. 

Soc. L..... August Gillhaus, N. Y. 

1912 

Dem. Woodrow Wilson, N. J. 

Rep.William H. Taft, Ohio. 

Prog.Theodore Roosevelt, N. Y_ 

Soc.Eugene V. Debs, Ind__ 

Prohib. Eugene W. Chafin, Ill. 

Soc. L.Arthur E. Reimer, Mass. 

t States not voting possessed an electoral vote of 23. 


Total 

Elect. 

Vote 

Vote 

5,554,414 

277 

5,190,802 

145 

1,027,329 

22 

271,058 


21,164 


7,035,638 

271 

6,467,946 

176 

141,676 


131,529 


36,454 


13,969 


7,219,530 

29£ 

6,358,071 

155 

209,166 


50,373 


96,768 


32,751 


1,059 


5,698 


7,628,834- 

336 

5,084,491 

140 

402,460 


259,257 


114,753 


33,724 

. 

7,679,006 

321 

6,409,106 

162 

420,820 

• • • • 

252,683 


83,562 

• • • • • 

28,131 


13,825 


6,293,019 

435 

3,484,956 

8 

4,119,507 

88 

901,873 


207,928 


29,259 



State 

Admitted to the 
Union 

Area. 
Sq. M. 

DATA OF 

Rep. Elec. 
Cong.tvote.t 

STATES 

State 

Admitted to the 
Union 

Area. 

Sq. M. 

Rep. Elec. 
Cong.fvote.t 

Alabama. 

. . . Dec. 14, 1819. .. 

51,998 

10 

12 

Nebraska. 

. Feb. 9, 1867.... 

. 77,520 

6 

8 

Arizona . 

... Feb. 14, 1912.. . 

113,956 

1 

3 

Nevada. 

. Mar. 21, 1864 . 

. 110,690 

1 

3 

Arkansas. 

. . June 15, 1836. . . 

53,335 

7 

9 

New Hampshire.. 

.*June 21, 1788. . 

9,341 

2 

4 

California. 

. . Sept. 9, 1850.... 

158,297 

11 

13 

New Jersey. 

. *Dec. 18, 1787. . 

8,224 

12 

14 

Colorado. 

. . Mar. 3, 1875. . . . 

103,948 

4 

6 

New Mexico. 

. Jan. 6, 1912... . 

. 122,634 

1 

3 

Connecticut.... 

.,*Jan. 9, 1788. 

4,965 

5 

7 

New York. 

. .*July 26, 1788... 

. 49,204 

43 

45 

Delaware. 

. ,*Dec. 7, 1787 _ 

2,370 

1 

3 

North Carolina... 

.*Nov. 21, 1789.. 

. 52,426 

10 

12 

Florida. 


58,666 

4 

6 

North Dakota.... 

. Feb. 22, 1889 . . 

. 70,837 

3 

5 

Georgia. 

...*Jan. 2,1788. 

59,265 

12 

14 

Ohio. 

. Feb. 19, 180b.. 

41,040 

22 

24 

Idaho. 

. July 3, 1890_ 

83,888 

2 

4 

Oklahoma. 

. Nov. 16, 1907.. 

. 70,057 

8 

10 

Illinois. 

. . Dec. 3, 1818_ 

56,665 

27 

29 

Oregon. 

. Feb. 14,1859.. 

96,699 

3 

5 

Indiana. 

. . Dec. 11, 1816. . . 

36,354 

13 

15 

Pennsylvania. 

. ,*Dec. 12, 1787. . 

45,126 

36 

38 

Iowa. 

. . March 3, 1845... 

56,147 

11 

13 

Rhode Island.... 

. . *May 29, 1790. . 

1,248 

3 

5 

Kansas. 

. Jan. 29, 1861.. . . 

82,158 

8 

10 

South Carolina. . . 

. . *May 23, 1788. . 

30,989 

7 

9 

Kentucky. 

.. Feb. 4, 1791 .... 

40,598 

11 

13 

South Dakota.. . . 

. Feb. 22, 1889 . . 

. 77,615 

3 

5 

Louisiana. 


48,506 

8 

10 

Tennessee. 

. June 1, 1796... 

42,022 

10 

12 

Maine. .'. 

.. March 3, 1820... 

33,040 

4 

6 

Texas. 

. . Dec. 29, 1845 . . 

. 265,896 

18 

20 

Maryland. 

. . . *April 28. 1788. .. 

12,327 

6 

8 

Utah. 

. . July 16, 1896. . 

84,990 

2 

4 

Massachusetts. . 

. .*Feb. 6, 1788. . . . 

8,266 

16 

18 

Vermont. 

.. Feb.18, 1791. . 

9,564 

2 

4 

Michigan. 

... Jan. 26, 1837 . .. 

57,980 

13 

15 

Virginia. 

. . *June 26, 1788. . 

. 42,627 

10 

12 

Minnesota. 

. . . May 11, 1858. . . 

84,682 

10 

12 

Washington. 

. . Feb. 27, 1889... 

. 69,127 

5 

7 

Mississippi. 

. . . Dec. 10, 1817. . . 

46,865 

8 

10 

West Virginia. . . . 

. . Dec. 31, 1862. . 

. 24,170 

6 

8 

Missouri. 

. . March 2, 1821... 

69,420 

16 

18 

Wisconsin. 

. . May 29, 1848. . 

. 56,066 

11 

13 

Montana. 

. . Feb. 22, 1889.... 

146,997 

2 

4 

Wyoming. 

. . July 10, 1890... 

. 97,914 

1 

3 


} 














































































































































































































13 


PRESIDENTS OF UNITED STATES 


Name 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 
9 
10 
11 
12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 
21 
22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 


George Washington.. 

John Adams. 

Thomas Jefferson.... 

James Madison. 

James Monroe. 

John Quincy Adams. 

Andrew Jackson. 

Martin Van Buren... 
Wm. Henry Harrison 

John Tyler. 

James K. Polk. 

Zachary Taylor. 

Millard Fillmore. 

Franklin Pierce. 

James Buchanan. . .. 
Abraham Lincoln 

Andrew Johnson. 

Ulysses S. Grant. 

Rutherford B. Hayes. 
James A. Garfield— 
Chester A. Arthur... 
Grover Cleveland.... 
Benjamin Harrison. . 
Grover Cleveland.... 
William McKinley... 
Theodore Roosevelt.. 

William H. Talt. 

Woodrow Wilson.... 


PRESIDENTS OF UNITED STATES 


Born 


Feb. 22,1732 
Oct. 30, 1735 
April 13, 1743 
Mch.16,1751 
April 28, 1758 
July 11,1767 
Mch. 15, 1767 
Dec. 5, 1782 
Feb. 9,1773 
Mch. 29, 1790 
Nov. 2, 1795 
Sept. 24, 1784 
Jan. 7, 1800 
Nov. 23, 1804 
April 23, 1791 
Feb. 12,1809 
Dec. 29, 1808 
April 2 7, 1822 
Oct. 4, 1822 
Nov. 19, 1831 
Oct. 5, 1830 
Mch. 18,1837 
Aug. 20, 1833 
Mch. 18,1837 
Jan. 29, 1843 
Oct. 27, 1858 
Sept. 15, 1857 
Dec. 28, 1856 


Native 

State 

Age at 
Election 

State from 
which 
Elected 

Years of 
Service 

Died 

Virginia. ... 

57 

Virginia.... 

8 

Dec. 14, 1799 

Mass. 

61 

Mass. 

4 

July 4,1826 
July 4, 1826 

Virginia.... 

57 

Virginia.. . . 

8 

Virginia. ... 

57 

Virginia... . 

8 

June 28, 1836 

Virginia. . .. 

58 

Virginia. .. . 

8 

July 4, 1831 

Mass. 

57 

Mass. 

4 

Feb. 23,1848 
June 8,1845 

N. Carolina. 

61 

Tenn. 

8 

New York.. 

54 

New York. . 

4 

July 24,1862 

Virginia... . 

68 

Ohio. 

1 mo. 

April 4, 1841 

Virginia. ... 

51 

Virginia. ... 

4 

Jan. 18, 1862 

N. Car. 

49 

Tenn. 

4 

June 15, 1849 
July 9, 1850 

Virginia.... 

64 

La. 

IK 

New York. . 

50 

New York. . 

2K 

Mch. 8, 1874 

N. H. 

48 

N. H. 

4 

Oct. 8, 1869 
June 1, 1868 
April 15, 1865 

Penn. 

65 

Penn. 

4 

Kentucky... 

52 

Illinois. 

4K 

N. Carolina. 

56 

Tenn. 

3H 

July 31, 1875 

Ohio. 

46 

Illinois. 

8 

July 23, 1885 
Jan. 17, 1893 
Sept. 19, 1881 

Ohio. 

54 

Ohio. 

4 

Ohio. 

49 

Ohio. 

K 

Vermont.... 

50 

New York. . 

3K 

Nov. 18, 1886 

N. Jersey... 

47 

New York. . 

4 

June 24,1908 

Ohio. 

55 

Indiana.... 

4 

Mch. 13,1901 

N. Jersey... 

55 

New York. . 

4 

June 24, 1908 

Ohio. 

54 

Ohio. 

4K 

Sept. 14, 1901 

New York.. 

42 

New York.. 

7K 

Living 

Ohio. 

51 

Ohio. 

4 

Living 

Virginia . . . 

56 

New Jersey. 


Living 


Age at 
Death 


67 
90 
83 
85 

73 
80 

78 

79 

68 
71 
53 

65 

74 
64 
77 
56 

66 
63 

70 
49 
56 

71 
67 
71 
58 


VICE PRESIDENTS OF UNITED STATES 


Name. 

Born. 

Native 

State 

State 

from which 
elected. 

Years 

of 

service 

Died. 

Age 

at 

Death 

1 . 

John Adams. 

Oct. 30, 1735 

Mass. 

Mass. 

8 

July 4, 1826 


90 

2. 

Thos. Jefferson. 

Apiil 13, 1743 

Virginia 

Virginia 

4 

July 4, 1826 


83 

3. 

Aaron Burr. 

Feb. 6, 1756 

New Jersey 

New York 

4 

Sept. 14, 1836 


80 

4. 

Geo. Clinton. 

July 26, 1739 

New York 

New York 

7 

April 20, 1812 


73 

5. 

Elbridge Gerry. 

July 17, 1744 

Mass. 

Mass. 


Nov. 23, 1814 


70 

6. 

Daniel D. Tompkins. 

June 21, 1774 

New York 

New York 

8 

June 11,1825 


51 

7. 

John C. Calhoun. 

Mar. 18, 1782 

So. Carolina 

So. Carolina 

7K 

Mar. 31, 1850 


68 

8. 

Martin Van Buren. 

Dec. 5, 1782 

New York 

New York 

4 

July 24, 1862 


79 

9. 

Richard M. Johnson. 

Oct. 17, 1780 

Kentucky 

Kentucky 

4 

Nov. 19, 1850 


70 

10 

John Tyler. 

Mar. 29, 1790 

Virginia 

Virginia 

1 mo. 

Jan. 18, 1862 


72 

11. 

George M. Dallas. 

July 10, 1792 

Pennsylvania 

Pennsylvania 

4 

Dec. 31, 1864 


72 

12. 

Millard Fillmore. 

Jan. 7, 1800 

New York 

New York 

1 

Mar 7, 1874 


74 

13. 

William R. King. 

April 6, 1786 

No. Carolina 

Alabama 

1 mo. 

April 18, 1853 


67 

14. 

John C. Breckenridge. 

Jan. 21, 1821 

Kentucky 

Kentucky 

4 

May 17, 1875 


54 

15. 

Hannibal Hamlin. 

Aug. 27,1809 

Maine 

Maine 

4 

July 4, 1891 


81 

16. 

Andrew Johnson. 

Dec. 29, 1808 

No. Carolina 

Tenn. 

1 mo. 

July 31, 1875 


66 

17. 

Schuyler Colfax. 

Mar. 23, 1823 

New York 

Indiana 

4 

Jan. 13, 1885 


62 

18. 

Henry Wilson. 

Feb. 12, 1812 

New Hamp. 

Mass. 

2 K 

Nov. 22, 1875 


63 

19 

William A. Wheeler. 

June 30, 1819 

New York 

New York 

4 

June 4,1887 


68 

20. 

Chester A. Arthur. 

Oct. 5, 1830 

Vermont 

New York 

6 mos. 

Nov. 18, 1886 


56 

21. 

Thos. A. Hendricks. 

Sept. 7, 1819 

Ohio 

Indiana 

6 mos. 

Nov. 25, 1885 


66 

22. 

Levi P. Morton. 

May 16, 1824 

Vermont 

New York 

4 

Living 


— 

23. 

Adlai E. Stevenson. 

Oct. 23, 1835 

Kentucky 

Illinois 

4 

June 14, 1914 


78 

24. 

Garret A. Hobart. 

June 3, 1844 

New Jersey 

New Jersey 

2K 

Nov. 21, 1899 


55 

25. 

Theodore Roosevelt. 

Oct. 27, 1858 

New York 

New York 

6 mos. 

Living 


— 

26. 

Chas. W. Fairbanks. 

May 11, 1852 

Ohio 

Indiana 

4 

Living 


-- 

27. 

Jas.^S- Sherman. 

Oct. 24, 1855 

New York 

New York 

3K 

Oct. 30, 1912 


57 

28. 

Thomas R. Marshall. 

Mar. 14, 1854 

Indiana 

Indiana 


Living 




THE TITLE OF THE PRESIDENT 

The address of the President is simply “The President of the United States.” In the First Congress, there was a 
debate over a title and it was proposed by some members that he be addressed as “His Excellency” and by others as “His 
Highness,” but a committee reported that “it is not proper to annex any style or title other than that expressed in the 
Constitution” 































































































































UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT 


UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT 


EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 

Salary. 

President—Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey.*$/5,000 

(Presidential term expires March 4th, 1917.) 

Vice-President—Thomas R. Marshall of Indiana. 12,000 


Secretary to President—Joseph P. Tumulty of N. J... 7,500 

CABINET PORTFOLIOS 
(Officers appointed by President for no fixed term.) 

Department of State 

Sec. of State—Robert Lansing of N. Y. $12,000 

Duties.—To attend to all correspondence with the ambassa¬ 
dors and consuls of the U. S., and with representatives of 
foreign powers sent to the U. S.; and to negotiations relating 
to foreign affairs of the U. S. He is also the medium of corre¬ 
spondence between the President and the governors of the 
States; also of foreign executives. He countersigns and affixes 
the U. S. seal to all executive proclamations. He is custodian 
of the treaties made with foreign states, and of the laws of the 
U. S. He grants and issues passports. He is also charged 
with certain annual reports to Congress relating to commercial 
information received from diplomatic and consular officers. 

Department of the Treasury 
Sec. of Treasury—William Gibbs McAdoo of N. Y... $12,000 

Duties.—To manage national finances, superintend collection 
of all revenues. He is the government bookkeeper and grants 
all warrants for moneys expended. Submits to government an 
annual budget. He also controls the construction of public 
buildings; the coinage and printing of money; the administra¬ 
tion of the life-saving, revenue cutter, and the public health 
and marine hospital branches of the public service. General 
supervision over national banks, also a new bureau of shipping. 

Department of War 

Sec. of War—Newton D. Baker of Ohio.$12,000 

Duties.—General supervision of Army; also supervision of 
construction of Panama Canal; the U. S. Military Academy at 
West Point; national cemeteries; publication of Official Records 
of the War of the Rebellion; Board of Ordnance and Fortifica¬ 
tion and matters relating to river and harbor improvements; 
establishment of harbor lines, and approves plans and locations 
of bridges which are constructed over navigable waters of the 
U. S. 

Department of Justice 

Attorney-General—Thomas Watt Gregory of Texas... $12,000 

Duties.—Represents the U. S. and the Cabinet in all matters 
of law; exercises a general superintendence and direction over 
U. S. attorneys and marshals in all judicial districts, and pro¬ 
vides special counsel for the U. S. whenever required by any 
department of the government. Has charge of all prosecutions 
against illegal combinations under the Sherman Anti-Trust Law. 

Post Office Department 

Postmaster-General—Albert Sidney Burleson of Texas $12,000 

Duties.—Appoints all officers and employees of the Dept., 
except the four Assistant Postmaster-Generals and the Purchas¬ 
ing Agent, who are appointed by the President; appoints post¬ 
masters whose compensation does not exceed $1,000; makes 
postal treaties with foreign governments, with the advice and 
consent of the President. General charge of the postal service. 

Navy Department 

Sec. of Navy—Josephus Daniels of North Carolina.... $12,000 

Duties.—General supervision over Navy. Superintends con¬ 
struction armament and employment of warships. Has charge 
of Navy Yards. 

Department of Interior 

Sec. of Interior—Franklin Knight Lane of Cal.$12,000 

Duties.—Superintends the bureaus for patents, pensions and 
bounty lands, public lands and surveys, the Indians, education. 


railroads, geo’ogical survey, reclamation of arid lands, investi¬ 
gation of methods of mining. Has charge of all national parks 
and reservations and the distribution of appropriations for 
agricultural and mechanical colleges. 

Department of Agriculture 

Sec. of Agriculture— David Franklin Houston of Mo.. $12,000 

Duties.—Besides having genera 1 supervision of business re¬ 
lating to agriculture and the gathering of agricultural statistics, 
he has charge of the Weather Bureau and the Forest Service. 
He also has contro 1 of the quarantine stations for imported 
cattle, of interstate quarantine rendered necessary by sheep 
and cattle diseases, and of the inspection of cattle-carrying 
vessels; and directs the enforcement of the meat inspection and 
iood and drug laws under which the inspection of domestic.and 
imported food products is carried on. He enforces the laws 
prohibiting the transportation of interstate commerce of game 
killed in violation of local laws. He furnishes sample seeds of 
various vegetables and flowers. 

Department of Commerce 

Sec. of Commerce—William Cox Redfield of N. Y. ... $12,000 

Duties.—To promote mining, manufacturing, shipping, fish¬ 
ery, and transporting interests. His duties also comprise 
investigation of corporations. He has charge of the Light 
House Service, taking of the census, making of coast and 
geodetic surveys, collecting of statistics relating to foreign and 
domestic commerce, inspection of steamboats, supervision of 
fisheries, supervision and control of the Alaskan fur seal, salmon 
and other fisheries, and jurisdiction over merchant vessels and 
seamen of the U. S. 

Department of Labor 

Sec. of Labor—William Bauchop Wilson of Penn.$12,000 

Duties.—To promote and develop the welfare of wage earners. 
He is also charged with the administration of the laws re¬ 
lating to immigration and the Chinese exclusion laws. The 
Bureau of Naturalization and the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
come under this department as well as the Children’s Bureau. 

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 

Qualifications. —The President must be thirty-five years 
old, a native of the United States, and a resident therein for 
fourteen years. The qualifications of the Vice-President are 
the same. 

Term. —His term of office is four years, and he swears to 
preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United 
States to the best of his ability. 

Army Status. —He is Commander-in-Chief of the Army 
and Navy of the United States, when it is called into the 
actual service of the nation. 

Advisors. —He may require the opinion in writing of the 
principal officers in each of the executive departments upon 
any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices. 
These executive departments are nine in number— Depart¬ 
ment of State, Treasury Department, War Department, De¬ 
partment of Justice (Attorney-General), Post Office Depart¬ 
ment, Navy Department, Department of the Interior, De¬ 
partment of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, and 
Department of Labor. The heads thereof constitute the 
President’s Cabinet or official family. 

Powers. —He has power to grant pardons for offenses 
against the.United States, except in cases of impeachments; to 
make treaties by and with the advice and consent of frwo-thirds 
of the Senate; nominate, and, by and with the advice and 
consent of two-thirds of the Senate, appoint ambassadors, 
ministers and consuls to foreign countries, Judges of the U. S. 
Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States 
whose appointments are not otherwise provided for. If vacancies 
occur during a recess of the Senate, he may grant commissions 
to new appointees, which shall expire at the end of the next 
session of the Senate. 


*1*25,000 also allowed for traveling expenses. 













WOMAN SUFFRAGE 


15 


WOMAN SUFFRAGE 


ComPl<* e woman suffrage has been granted in eleven States, 
and the Territory of Alaska, as follows: 


Wyoming. 

Colorado. 

Date 

Granted 

Number of 
Women Eli¬ 
gible to Vote 
28,840 

913 A9£ 

Utah. 


RS 790 

Idaho. 


l\Q ft 1 ft 

Washington. 

California. 


277,727 

^71 3RA 

Kansas. 


43R Q34 

Arizona. 


at. 801 

Oregon. 

Alaska . 


169,000 

11 non 

Montana... . 


81,741 

18,140 

Nevada.... 



9 ctot ! er l7 ' 1915 - New J^y cast 125,320 votes for and 
1/6,482 against Woman Suffrage. 

On November 2, 1915, the following states cast votes against 
Woman Suffrage: 

Massachusetts by 132,000 majority. New York by 195,000 
majority and Pennsylvania by 55,000 majority. 

Partial Woman Suffrage 

Partial Woman suffrage exists in several States. The kind of 
suffrage and dates of establishment follow: 

Connecticut—School suffrage (1893) 

Delaware—School suffrage to tax-paying women (1898) 

Illinois—The Illinois legislature passed a law by which Illinois 
women gain the right to vote for all officials not provided for by 
the State constitution. This includes Presidential electors and 
all county and municipal officers (1913). 

Iowa—Bond suffrage (1894), tax levies. 

Kentucky—School suffrage to widows with children of school 
age (1838). Measure enlarged (1912). 

Louisiana—Tax-paying suffrage (1898) 

Massachusetts—School suffrage (1879) 

Michigan—School suffrage (1875), taxpayers to vote on ques¬ 
tions of local taxation and granting franchises (1908) 
Minnesota—School suffrage (1875), library trustees (1898) 
Mississippi—School suffrage (1880) 

Nebraska—School suffrage (1883) 

New Hampshire—School suffrage (1878) 

New Jersey—School suffrage (1887) 

New Mexico—School suffrage (1910) 

New York—School suffrage (1880), tax-paying suffrage, local 
taxation in all towns and villages of the state (1901), wo¬ 
men in all towns, villages and third class cities vote on bond¬ 
ing propositions (1910) 

North Dakota—School suffrage (1887 
Ohio—School suffrage (1894) 

Oklahoma—School suffrage (1907) 

So, Dakota—School suffrage (1887) 

Vermont—School suffrage (1880) 

Wisconsin—School suffrage (1900) 

States Repudiating Woman Suffrage 

States whose legislatures have recently repudiated a woman 
suffrage amendment are Delware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, 
Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri,Nebraska,Ohio,South 
Dakota, Virginia and West Virginia. In Maine and West 
Virginia both houses gave the measure a majority indorsement 
but not the two-thirds vote required. In Missouri, after having 
been sent to engrossment by both houses, the bill was reconsid¬ 
ered and killed by the Senate. 

To Enfranchise Women. 

There are two ways through which women can be enfranchis¬ 
ed—Congress can submit an amendment to the National Con¬ 
stitution, which must be ratified by three-fourths of the Legis¬ 
latures: or the Legislature of each State can submit an amend¬ 


ment to its own constitution, which must be approved by the 
majority of the voters. The former would be the easier way, 
but the National American Woman Suffrage Association has 
realized that Congress would not act until a considerable num¬ 
ber of States had first conferred the suffrage. Therefore, while 
it has appealed to every Congress since 1869, it has continually 
assisted the individual States in their struggle. The Legislature 
of a Territory can grant the suffrage without referendum. 

Women Suffrage In Foreign Countries 

Woman suffrage exists in New Zealand, the six States of the 
Australian Federation, Finland, Norway and Iceland. All 
women in Sweden have municipal suffrage. In Denmark 
women who pay taxes or whose husbands pay taxes have the 
municipal vote. Isle of Man gives full Parliamentary suffrage 
to women tax payers. England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland 
give municipal suffrage to women. In Canada municipal suff¬ 
rage is given to property owning widows and spinsters in On¬ 
tario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward 
Island and Quebec; to tax paying widows and spinsters in 
Manitoba and New Brunswick. Nova Scotia grants minicipal 
suffrage to all property owning women, including married 
women whose husbands are not voters. Municipal suffrage is 
granted the women of Rangoon, capital of Burmab; Belize, 
capital of British Honduras; and Baroda and Bombay, British 
India. Women have limited communal franchise rights in cer¬ 
tain provinces of Austria, Hungary and Russia. 


RECORDS OF BALLOTS AT CONVENTIONS 


The following table gives the history of the national con¬ 
ventions since 1832, showing the number of ballots taken by 
each of the two leading parties and the candidate finally selected 


Year 

Ballots 
Dem. Rep. 

Nominations 

Dem. Rep. 

1832. 


1 

Jackson 

Clay* 

1836. 

. 1 

t 

Van Buren 

[ Harrison]*f 
Harrison* 

1840. 

. 1 

(?)t 

Van Buren 

1844. 

. 9 

1 

Polk 

Clay* 

1848. 

. 4 

4 

Cass 

Taylor* 

1852. 

.49 

53 

Pierce 

Scott* 

1856. 

.17 

1 

Buchanan 

Fremont 

1860. 

.59 

4 

Douglas 

Lincoln 

1864. 

I 

1 

McClellan 

Lincoln 

1868. 

.22 

1 

Seymour 

Grant 

1872. 

. 1 

1 

Greeley 

Grant 

1876. 


7 

Tilden 

Hayes 

1880. 

. 2 

36 

Hancock 

Garfield 

1884. 


4 

Cleveland 

Blaine 

1888. 

. 1 

8 

Cleveland 

Harrison 

1892. 

. 1 

1 

Cleveland 

Harrison 

1896. 

.5 

1 

Bryan 

McKinley 

1900. 

. 1 

1 

Bryan 

McKinley 

1904. 

. 1 

1 

Parker 

Roosevelt 

1908. 

. 1 

1 

Bryan 

Taft 

1912 ... . 

.46 

1 

Wilson 

Taft 


Democrats established the record in their 1860 convention. 
The delegates assembled in Charleston, S. C., on April 23. They 
were in session there for ten long days, without coming to any 
agreement. After fifty-seven ballots had been taken in vain 
they adjourned to meet at Baltimore on June 18. There the 
second ballot resulted in the nomination of Stephen A. Douglas. 
Incidentally the chairman of the National Committee that 
year of dissension was August Belmont, father of the two 
Belmonts who were in the storm centre in 1912. 

But the banner year for convention schisms was 1852. In 
that year over a hundred ballots were taken in the two conven¬ 
tions—49 by the Democrats and 53 by the Whigs. The Whigs 
finally elected Scott, but the Democrats had to fall back on a 
compromise candidate in the person of Pierce who was sub¬ 
sequently elected President. 

♦Whig. fNo convention. JNo record 










































Map showing Dry States 

















































PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 


17 


PRESIDENTS 
OF THE 



UNITED 

STATES. 


GEORGE WASHINGTON. 


George Washington, first President of the 
United States: born in Westmoreland County, 
Virginia, 22nd of February, 1732; died at Mount 
Vernon, 14th of December, 1799. He was the 
son of Augustine Washington, a Virginia 
planter. He left school when about sixteen 
years of age; was engaged in surveying 1748-51; 
was appointed adjutant of Virginia troops in 
1751; inherited Mount Vernon on the death of 
his brother in 1752; was made commander of a 
military district of Virginia in 1753; was sent 
on a mission to the French authorities beyond 
the Allegheny river, 1753-54; was appointed 
lieutenant-colonel in 1754; had a successful 
skirmish with the French and defended Fort 
Necessity, but was obliged to surrender on 
July 3, 1754; was a volunteer aide-de-camp to 
Braddock in 1755 in the battle of the Monon- 
gahela, and through his skill and knowledge 
of frontier warfare, saved the survivors of 
that disastrous engagement; commanded on 
the frontier, 1755-57; and led the advance 
guard in Forbes’s expedition against Fort 
Duquesne in 1758. In January, 1759, he 
married Mrs. Martha Custis and settled as a 
planter at Mount Vernon. He was elected a 
delegate to the Virginia House of Burgesses, 
and to the Continental Congresses of 1774-75; 
became commander-in-chief of the Continental 
forces at Cambridge in July, 1775; and com¬ 
pelled the evacuation of Boston in March, 1776. 
His army was defeated in the battle of Long 
Island in August, 1776, and at White Plains in 
the October following. He retreated across 
New Jersey to Pennsylvania and crossing the 
Delaware surprised the Hessians at Trenton, 
December 26; won the victory of Princeton, 


January, 1777; was defeated at Brandywine 
and Germantown in 1777; wintered at Valley 
Forge, 1777-78; fought the drawn battle of 
Monmouth in 1778; compelled the surrender 
of Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781; resigned 
his commission as commander-in-chief in 1783 
and retired to Mount Vernon. In 1787 he was 
president of the Constitutional Convention; 
was unanimously elected President of the 
United States in February, 1789, and inau¬ 
gurated at New York, April 30, 1789; was 
unanimously re-elected in 1793. His ad¬ 
ministrations were occupied with the estab¬ 

lishment of the new government under the 
Constitution, and the regulation of finance and 
commerce. Among the important events 

w r ere the admission of Vermont, Kentucky, and 
Tennessee, the Indian wars, the “ whiskey 
insurrection,” and the Jay treaty. In Sep¬ 
tember, 1796, he issued his farewell address to 
the people. In 1798 he was appointed 

lieutenant-general of the army in anticipation 
of a war with France. 

“It was always known by his friends, and 
it was soon acknowledged by the whole nation 
and by the English themselves, that in 
Washington America had found a leader who 
could be induced by no earthly motive to tell a 
falsehood, or to break an engagement, or to 
commit any dishonorable act. Men of this 
moral type are happily not rare, and we have 
all met them in our experience; but there is 
scarcely another instance in history of such a 
man’s having reached and maintained the 
highest position in the convulsions of civil war 
and of a great popular agitation.”—Lecky, 
England in the XVIIIth Century. 



18 


PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 



JOHN ADAMS. 

John Adams, second President of the United 
States: born at Braintree (Quincy), Massa¬ 
chusetts, 30th of October, 1735; died at 
Quincy, Massachusetts, 4th of July, 1826. 
The son of a small farmer, he was graduated 
from Harvard College in 1755, taught school, 
studied law T , w r as active in opposing the Stamp 
Act, was counsel for the soldiers charged with 
murder in connection with the “Boston 
massacre’’ of 1770, and became a leader of the 
patriot party. In 1774 he w r as chosen a mem¬ 
ber of the Revolutionary congress of Massa¬ 
chusetts. He was a delegate to the first and 
second Continental Congresses. In the Con¬ 
tinental Congress of 1775 he proposed Wash¬ 
ington as commander-in-chief of the Conti¬ 
nental forces. He was one of the committee of 
five which drew up and signed the Declara¬ 
tion of Independence. In 1777 he was 
appointed commissioner to France; negotiated 
a treaty with the Netherlands in 1782; was one 
of the negotiators of the treaties with Great 
Britain, 1782-83; negotiated a treaty with 
Prussia; and was appointed United States 
minister to England in 1785. He was Fed¬ 
eral Vice-President, 1789-97 and was elected 
as Federal candidate for President in 1796. 
His administration w r as a stormy one owmg 
partly to the treacherous course of the French 
Directory toward the United States minister, 
partly to dissension in his cabinet, and partly 
to the rivalry of Hamilton. The Alien and 
Sedition Acts added to his unpopularity but 
his lofty patriotism and sincerity have never 
been questioned. In 1800 he was again the 
Federal candidate for President but was de¬ 
feated and retired to Quincy in 1801. 


THOMAS JEFFERSON. 

Thomas Jefferson, third President of the 
United States: born at Shadwell, Albemarle 
County, Virginia, 2nd of April, 1743; died at 
Monticello, Albemarle County, Virginia, 4th 
of July, 1826. He was graduated from 
William and Mary College, studied law, and 
entered upon its practice. He -was a member 
of the Virginia House of Burgesses, 1769-75 
and became active in the Revolutionary 
agitation. He drafted the instructions to the 
Virginia delegates to the first Continental 
Congress. He was a delegate to the second 
Continental Congress of 1775-76 and drew up 
the Declaration of Independence. He was 
again in the House of Burgesses, 1776-78, and 
was governor of Virginia, 1779-81; w T as a 
member of Congress, 1783-84; United States 
minister to France, 1785-89, while there 
writing his “Notes on Virginia,” and witnessing 
the outbreak of the French Revolution; and 
secretary of state, 1790-93. In the ensuing 
years he became the founder and central 
figure of the Democratic-Republican party 
which was formed in opposition to the Federal¬ 
ists. He was Vice-President, 1797-1801, and 
President two terms, 1801-09. His adminis¬ 
trations were marked by the abolition of some 
usages of an aristocratic tendency, by the 
war with Tripoli, the Louisiana Purchase, the 
Lewds and Clark expedition for the exploration 
of the northwest, the “Chesapeake” incident, 
the reduction of the national debt, and the 
embargo. In his later life he was interested in 
educational wmrk and superintended the 
founding of the University of Virginia. His 
political theories have exerted a powerful 
influence upon public life in America. 








PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 


19 



JAMES MADISON. 

James Madison, fourth President of the 
United States: born at Port Conway, Virginia, 
16th of March, 1751; died at "Montpelier, 
Virginia, 28th of June, 1836. He was grad¬ 
uated from Princeton College in 1771 and for a 
few years thereafter pursued his studies in 
Hebrew, theology, philosophy, and law. In 
1774 he was a member of the Committee of 
Public Safety for Orange County, Virginia; in 
1776 was an influential delegate to the conven¬ 
tion which framed the Constitution of Virginia; 
was a member of the first Virginia legislature; 
was a delegate to Congress from Virginia, 
1780-83; and to the Constitutional Conven¬ 
tion of 1787; and had much influence in fram¬ 
ing and shaping the Constitution, while later 
the keen analysis and clear cut arguments, 
put forth in his writings and speeches, were 
potent factors in securing its adoption; was 
member of Congress from Virginia, 1797; 
drew up the Virginia Resolutions of 1798; 
was secretary of state, 1801-09; was elected 
President as Democratic candidate in 1808; 
and was re-elected in 1812. Madison was 
a man of peace and it was not until after 
many diplomatic attempts to bring about 
an understanding with England that he 
yielded to popular pressure and consented to 
the War of 1812. The greater part of his 
second administration was devoted to that 
conflict, and party strife became very bitter. 
The Peace of Ghent in 1814 left the country 
practically where it was before the war, “its 
boundary unchanged, its international rights 
still undefined.” But Madison’s services to 
the struggling young Republic place him in 
the first rank of her statesmen. 


JAMES MONROE. 

James Monroe, fifth President of the United 
States: born in Westmoreland County, Vir¬ 
ginia, 28th of April, 1758; died at New York, 
4th of July, 1831. He was descended 
from Scotch cavalier stock. Having entered 
William and Mary College, he left his course 
unfinished to serve in the Revolutionary War. 
He was a member of the Virginia Assembly in 
1782; was a member of Congress from Virginia, 
1783-86; was a member of the Virginia ratifica¬ 
tion convention in 1788, where he earnestly op¬ 
posed the centralizing features of the Constitu¬ 
tion; was United States senator from Virginia, 
1790-94; was United States minister to France, 
1794-96; was governor of Virginia, 1799-1802; 
was one of the negotiators of the Louisiana 
Purchase in 1803; was United States minister 
to Great Britain, 1803-07; was again governor 
of Virginia in 1811; was secretary of state 
under Madison, 1811-17, and secretary of war, 
1814-15; was elected President as the candi¬ 
date of the Democratic-Republican party in 
1816; and was re-elected in 1820. The period 
of his first administration is known as the 
“era of good feeling.” His administrations 
were distinguished by the acquisition of 
Florida from Spain in 1819, the admission of 
the states of Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, 
Maine, and Missouri. The discussion preceding 
the passage of the Missouri Compromise in 
that trial of strength between the slave and 
free states created bitter political strife. The 
promulgation of the Monroe Doctrine was 
more far-reaching in its effects than any other 
act of his useful, busy life and secured his title 
to fame. President Monroe’s later years were 
passed away from his native state. 







20 


PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 



JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 

John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the 
United States: born at Braintree, Massachu¬ 
setts, 11th of July, 1767; died at Washington, 
D. C., 23rd of February, 1848. He was the son 
of John Adams, second President of the 
United States. In his early life he was taken 
abroad by his father; studied at the University 
of Leyden, and at fourteen began his public 
career as secretary to Francis Dana, United 
States minister to Russia. He was grad¬ 
uated from Harvard in 1788; was admitted 
to the bar in 1791, and began to write on 
public affairs. He was minister to Holland, 
1794-97; was minister to Prussia, 1797-1801; 
United States senator, 1803-08; was ap¬ 
pointed minister to Russia in 1809; was 
one of the commissioners who negotiated 
the treaty of Ghent; was United States minis¬ 
ter to England, 1815-17; and secretary of state 
to President Monroe, 1817-25. In the election 
of 1824 though he received but 84 electoral 
votes to 99 for Andrew Jackson, he was, by a 
coalition of his followers with the supporters of 
Clay, chosen President by the House of 
Representatives. Adams’s administration was 
marked by intelligence, firmness, and integrity. 
It was, however, a stormy one owing to the 
bitter attacks of his enemies in Congress and to 
his own unbending and aggressive character. 
He favored protection, and internal improve¬ 
ments at Federal expense. He failed of re- 
election in 1828 but in 1831, at the age of 
sixty-four, he entered Congress as an inde¬ 
pendent member for the Quincy district in 
Massachusetts, which he represented till his 
death. He was an unsuccessful candidate 
for governor of Massachusetts in 1834. 



ANDREW JACKSON. 

Andrew Jackson, seventh President of the 
United States: born at the Waxhaw settle¬ 
ment, North Carolina, 15th of March, 1767; 
died at the Hermitage, near Nashville, Ten¬ 
nessee, 8th of June, 1845. He began his 
military career at the age of thirteen at the 
battle of Hanging Rock. He was member of 
Congress from Tennessee, 1796-97; United 
States senator, 1797-98; justice of the Supreme 
Court of Tennessee, 1798-1804; defeated the 
Creeks at Talladega in 1813, and at Emuckfau, 
and Horseshoe Bend in 1814; captured Pensa¬ 
cola from the English in 1814; defeated the 
English at New Orleans in January, 1815; con¬ 
ducted a campaign against the Seminoles, 
1817-18; was appointed governor of Florida 
Territory in 1821; was United States senator 
from Tennessee, 1823-25; was an unsuccessful 
candidate for President, in 1824; was elected as 
the Democratic candidate for President in 1828; 
and was re-elected in 1832. He instituted the 
“spoils system” in national politics by dis¬ 
charging nearly 700 office-holders during the 
first year of his administration as against 
seventy-four removals by all the preceding 
Presidents. In July, 1832, he vetoed a bill for 
renewing the charter of the Bank of the United 
States. On December, 11, 1832, he issued a 
proclamation in answer to the nullification 
ordinance passed by South Carolina, declaring 
void certain obnoxious duties on imports. 
In this proclamation he announced his de¬ 
termination to enforce the Federal laws, 
and following the proclamation he ordered 
United States troops to Charleston and 
Augusta, thus bringing about the submission 
of the nullifiers. 






PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 


21 



MARTIN VAN BUREN. 

Martin Van Buren, eighth President of 
the United States: born at Kinderhook, New 
York, 5th of December, 1782; died at Kinder¬ 
hook, 24th of July, 1862. He was eminent in 
his State both as a lawyer and as a Democratic 
politician; was an adroit party manager and 
often styled the “Little Magician. ,, He was 
admitted to the bar in 1803; became surrogate 
of Columbia County in 1808; entered the New 
York State senate in 1812, and was re-elected to 
that body in 1816; was attorney-general of New 
York State, 1815-19; was United States senator 
from New York, 1821-28; was an influential 
member of the New York State constitutional 
convention in 1821; was governor of New York, 
1828-29; was secretary of state under Presi¬ 
dent Jackson, 1829-31; was sent as minister 
to Great Britain in 1831, but soon returned, 
owing to the rejection of his nomination 
by the United States Senate; was elected 
with Jackson for the latter’s second term, 
serving as Vice-President, 1833-37; was 
elected as Democratic candidate for Presi¬ 
dent in 1836 and served 1837-41. During 
his administration the country w*as troubled by 
the disastrous financial panic of 1837. Among 
the important features of his administration 
were the establishment of the independent 
treasury system, for which Mr. Van Buren 
deserved great credit, and the pre-emption 
law. Mr. Van Buren was again candidate for 
President in 1840 but was defeated by General 
William Henry Harrison. He was an un¬ 
successful candidate for the Democratic 
nomination for President in 1844; and the 
unsuccessful candidate of the Free-soil party 
for President in 1848. 



WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. 


William Henry Harrison, ninth President 
of the United States: born at Berkeley, Charles 
City County, Virginia, 9th of February, 1773; 
died at Washington, D. C., 4th of April, 1842. 
He was the son of Benjamin Harrison, a signer 
of the Declaration of Independence; was edu¬ 
cated at Hampden Sidney College; entered 
the army, and fought at Wayne’s victory of 
1794. In 1798 he became secretary of the 
Northwest Territory, and in 1799-1800 repre¬ 
sented that Territory in Congress; was gover¬ 
nor of the new Indiana Territory in 1800; was 
still governor when the Indian outbreak 
occurred, and his victory at Tippecanoe, 
November 7, 1811, gave him national promi¬ 
nence. In the war of 1812 he was major-gen¬ 
eral, first of Kentucky militia, and then in the 
regular army. He defended Fort Meigs against 
the British in 1813, and achieved his second 
military triumph by defeating Proctor and 
Tecumseh at the battle of the Thames. He was 
a member of Congress from Ohio, 1816-19; 
was United States senator, 1825-28; was 
made United States minister to Colombia, 
1828-29; and was defeated by Van Buren as 
the Whig candidate for President in 1836. In 
December, 1839, the Whig party again put 
him forward as candidate for the presidency 
against Mr. Van Buren. The campaign of 
which the slogan was “Tippecanoe and 
Tyler, too,” was one of enthusiastic demon¬ 
stration for the “log cabin and hard cider” 
candidate and he succeeded president Van 
Buren on March 4, 1841. He held office 
but one month, falling a victim to the fatigue 
incident to the campaign and the clamor of 
office seekers. 





22 


PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 



John Tyler, tenth President of the United 
States: born at Green way, Charles City 

County, Virginia, 29th of March, 1790; died 

at Richmond, Virginia, 18th of June, 1862. 
He was educated at William and Mary 

College; was admitted to the bar in 1809; 
was member of the Virginia legislature, 
1811-16: volunteered for the defense of 
Richmond in 1813; was member of Congress 
from Virginia, 1816-21; was a member of the 
legislature, 1823-25; was governor of Virginia, 
1825-27; and was United States senator from 
Virginia, 1827-36. He opposed the tariff, 

the bank, and the Force Bill, and resigned in 

February, 1836, because of unwillingness to 
obey instructions of the Virginia legislature to 
vote for the “expunging resolution.” He re¬ 
ceived 47 electoral votes in 1836 as candidate 
of the “States-rights Whigs” for Vice-Presi¬ 
dent; was returned to the Virginia legislature 
in 1838; and was nominated by the Whigs as 
candidate for Vice-President in December, 
1839. The death of President Harrison on 
April 4, 1841, one month after his inauguration, 
left Mr. Tyler President of the United States. 
His administration was marked by the quarrel 
with the leaders of the Whig party; the veto of 
the fiscal bank bills in 1841; veto of the pro¬ 
tective bill in 1842; the Ashburton treaty; and 
the annexation of Texas. He was nominated 
for President by a Democratic convention in 
1842, but subsequently withdrew. He was 
made peace commissioner by President 
Buchanan in 1861; was president of the peace 
convention in February, 1861; favored seces¬ 
sion of Virginia; and was made a member of the 
Confederate provisional congress. His death 
occurred during the first year of the Civil War. 


James Knox Polk, eleventh President of 
the United States: born in Mecklenburg 
County, North Carolina, 2nd of November, 
1795; died at Nashville, Tennessee, 15th of 
June, 1849. He was a graduate of the 
University of North Carolina and became a 
lawyer in Tennessee, having been admitted to 
the bar in 1820. He represented Tennessee as 
a Democratic member of Congress, 1825-39; 
was chairman of the Ways and Means com¬ 
mittee; was speaker of the House of Represen¬ 
tatives, 1835-39; was governor of Tennessee 
from 1839 to 1841; was defeated candidate 
for governor in 1841 and again in 1843. In 
1844 the Democrats selected Mr. Polk as a 
“safe,” compromise candidate for the presi¬ 
dency. The election was a close, hard strug¬ 
gle, with Mr. Clay, the great compromiser, as 
the Whig candidate. It ended in a victory 
for Mr. Polk, who had 175 electoral votes. He 
was inaugurated March 4, 1845, and his admin¬ 
istration was one of great interest. The Mexi¬ 
can war, in which President Polk thoroughly 
believed, was vigorously prosecuted and its 
termination resulted in the acquisition by the 
United States of California and other Mexican 
territory. The boundary between Oregon and 
Canada, which had long been a subject of 
controversy between England and the United 
States, w r as peaceably settled by treaty in 
1846. The revenue “Walker Tariff” re¬ 
ceived his approval, but he vetoed river 
and harbor bills in 1846 and 1847. As his 
term was nearing its end, gold was discovered 
in California and the movement of population 
to the westward greatly accelerated. Mr. 
Polk lived but a few months after his retire¬ 
ment from office. 






PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 


23 



ZACHARY TAYLOR. 


MILLARD FILLMORE. 



Zachary Taylor, twelfth President of the 
United States: born in Orange County, 
Virginia, 24th of September, 1784; died at 
Washington, D. C., 9th of July, 1850. He 
entered the United States army as first lieuten¬ 
ant in 1808; served in the War of 1812, 
attaining the rank of major; defended Fort 
Harrison against the Indians in 1812; served in 
Black Hawk’s war in 1832, with the rank of 
colonel; won a victory over the Seminole 
Indians at Okechobee in 1837, and was brevet- 
ted brigadier-general; and became comman- 
der-in-chief in Florida in 1838. Later he 
commanded United States forces in the South¬ 
west. When war with Mexico became immi¬ 
nent in 1845 Taylor was ordered to the dis¬ 
puted Texan frontier. He commanded in 
northern Mexico in the Mexican war; gained 
the battle of Palo Alto, May 8, 1846, and that 
of Resaca de la Palma the following day; 
took possession of Matamoras on May 18th; 
captured Monterey, September 24; and de¬ 
feated Santa Ana at Buena Vista, February 
22-23, 1847. He was appointed major-general 
June 29, 1846. The war over, Taylor became 
the national hero and in 1848 the Whigs 
nominated him as candidate for President 
over such competitors as Henry Clay and 
Daniel Webster. He was elected and entered 
upon his duties in 1849. The admission of 
California was complicated wuth the slavery 
question and the controversy attendant upon 
the settlement of these absorbing topics 
filled the brief period of his administration 
which was closed by his death sixteen months 
after his inauguration. 


Millard Fillmore, thirteenth President of 
the United States: born at Summer Hill, 
Cayuga County, New York, 7th of January, 
1800; died at Buffalo, New York, 8th of March, 
1874. He was the son of Nathaniel Fillmore, 
a farmer of very modest fortune. While still 
a boy he learned the trade of a fuller; later he 
studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1823, 
and took up practice at Aurora, New York; 
was a member of the New York State House 
of Representatives, 1829-33, and drafted the 
bill abolishing imprisonment for debt; served 
as a representative of the Whig party from 
New York, in Congress, 1833-35, and, again, 
1837-43; during the latter term was a member 
of the Ways and Means committee and drafted 
the tariff bill of 1842; was comptroller of the 
State of New York, 1847-49; was elected Vice- 
President on the Whig ticket headed by Zach¬ 
ary Taylor, in 1848; became President on the 
death of President Taylor, July 9, 1850, retir¬ 
ing from office March 4, 1853. During his ad¬ 
ministration the Compromise Acts of 1850 
were passed with the cordial approval of Presi¬ 
dent Fillmore. The expedition to Japan under 
Commodore Perry in 1853 was organized and 
executed. During his administration his po¬ 
litical opponents were in control of both houses 
of Congress. Daniel Webster was his secretary 
of state. In 1856 Mr. Fillmore became the 
National American candidate for President of 
the United States but was defeated by Franklin 
Pierce, the Democratic candidate. He com¬ 
manded -a corps during the Civil war, and 
was the honored president of the Buffalo His¬ 
torical Society. 






24 


PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 



FRANKLIN PIERCE. 

Franklin Pierce, fourteenth President of 
the United States: born at Hillsborough, New 
Hampshire, 23d of November, 1804; died at 
Concord, New Hampshire, 8th of October, 
1869. He was the son of Benjamin Pierce; 
was graduated from Bowdoin College, where he 
was an associate of Hawthorne and Long¬ 
fellow. After his graduation from Bowdoin 
he studied law and was admitted to the bar of 
his native state. While very young he was 
elected to the State Legislature and became 
speaker of that body. He was representative 
of the Democratic party of New Hampshire in 
Congress, 1833-37; w r as United States senator, 
1839-42; was offered a cabinet position, 
which he declined; was a volunteer in the 
Mexican War, 1846-48; w T as distinguished for 
bravery, and w r as appointed brigadier-general; 
won credit in the battles of Contreas and 
Churubusco. His w T ar record was a decisive 
factor in making him a presidential candidate. 
He was president of the New York State con¬ 
stitutional convention in 1850, and attained 
eminence in his profession. At the Demo¬ 
cratic National convention of 1852, Pierce 
was nominated on the forty-ninth ballot, 
triumphing over such prominent competitors 
as Marcy, Cass, Buchanan, and Douglas. 
In the election he received 254 electoral 
votes. His administration was marked by 
the agitation of the Kansas-Nebraska ques¬ 
tion and the growth of the slavery contro¬ 
versy, by the Japan treaty, by the Nicaraguan 
affairs, the dissolution of the Whig party, and 
rise of the American and Republican parties. 
President Pierce was defeated for re-nomina¬ 
tion in 1856. 



JAMES BUCHANAN. 

James Buchanan, fifteenth President of the 
United States: born at Stony Batter, Franklin 
County, Pennsylvania, 22d of April, 1791; 
died at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1st of June, 
1868. His father, an Irishman, settled on a 
farm at Stony Batter in 1783. James was 
educated at Dickinson College, Carlisle, from 
which institution he was graduated. He 
studied law and was admitted to the bar in 
1812. In 1814 he was elected to the legisla¬ 
ture of Pennsylvania, and to Congress in 
1820, remaining a member of that body till 
1831. President Jackson sent him as special 
ambassador to Russia to arrange a commercial 
treaty with that country. Returning to 
the United States in 1833 he was elected 
to the Senate. During the anti-slavery agi¬ 
tation Buchanan tried to keep it out of 
Congress by declaring that, constitutionally, 
it was a question which could be settled only 
by the individual states. Buchanan w r as 
secretary of state under President Polk. In 
1853 President Pierce made him United States 
minister to England where he was distin¬ 
guished by his dignified conduct of the affairs of 
his office. He returned to America in 1856 
the chosen candidate of the Democratic party 
for the presidency. He was elected by a large 
majority over General Fremont, the Republi¬ 
can candidate. The questions of slavery and 
State-rights were the paramount issues of his 
administration. While claiming that the 
states had no right to secede, he denied the 
power of the Federal government to prevent 
their doing so. He became, however, a 
staunch supporter of President Lincoln and 
encouraged the prosecution of the war. 





PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 


25 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 


Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth President of 
the United States: born in Hardin County, 
Kentucky, 12th of February, 1809; died at 
Washington, D. C., 15th of April, 1865. He 
was the son of Thomas Lincoln, descended 
from English Quaker stock. In 1816 the 
family moved from Kentucky to Indiana and 
in 1830 settled in Illinois. Soon after the 
latter change Lincoln began to work for him¬ 
self and was engaged at different times as farm 
laborer, salesman, merchant, and surveyor. 
He was admitted to the bar in 1836 and 
began the practice of law at Springfield in 
1837. He served in the Black Hawk war in 
1832; was a Whig member of the Illinois State 
legislature, 1834-42; was Whig member of 
Congress from Illinois, 1847-49; was Republi¬ 
can candidate for United States senator in 
1858 and w T as defeated by Stephen A. Douglas. 
In a series of debates with Mr. Douglas held 
throughout Illinois Mr. Lincoln took so pro¬ 
nounced a stand against slavery that he 
acquired national fame and became the 
Republican candidate for President in 1860. 
He was elected, and was inaugurated March 
4, 1861. His election was followed by the 
secession, one after another, of the slave 
states of the South and by the organization of 
the Confederacy. War was begun by the 
Secessionists at Fort Sumter on April 12, 
1861, and continued for four years. In Sep¬ 
tember, 1862, President Lincoln issued a 
proclamation emancipating all slaves in 
states, or parts of states, which should be in 
rebellion on January 1, 1863. Mr Lincoln 
was re-elected in 1864. He was shot by John 
Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre, Washington, 
D. C., April 14, 1865. 



ANDREW JOHNSON. 

Andrew Johnson, seventeenth President 
of the United States: born at Raleigh, North 
Carolina, 29th of December, 1808; died in 
Carter County, Tennessee, 31st of July, 1875. 
He had no advantages of education, and was in 
early life a tailor. He was a man of tireless 
energy of character and after establishing him¬ 
self in Tennessee he became a member of the 
State legislature; was a member of Congress 
from Tennessee, 1843-53; was governor of Ten¬ 
nessee, 1853-57; was United States senator 
1857-62; was military governor of Tennessee 
1862-64; was elected as Republican candidate 
for Vice-President with Lincoln in 1864; suc¬ 
ceeded Lincoln as President on April 15th, 
1865. His nomination to the vice-presidency 
was brought about by the Republicans as a 
means to conciliate the war Democrats. His 
unexpected accession to the presidency placed 
him in conflict with the party which had elected 
him because of his Democratic State-rights 
convictions. Congress was then heavily Re¬ 
publican, Mr. Johnson was a man of hasty 
temper and grim determination, and the quarrel 
which ensued between them was bitter. Mat¬ 
ters culminated when Mr. Johnson attempted 
to remove Edwin M. Stanton from the 
secretaryship of war without the consent 
of the Senate, contrary to the tenure of office 
act passed over his veto, March 2, 1867. He 
was impeached for high crimes and mis¬ 
demeanors, but was acquitted after a trial 
lasting from March 23 to May 26, 1868. The 
vote for acquittal stood 35 to 19, very nearly 
the two-thirds vote necessary to conviction. 
That Mr. Johnson was sincere and desired to 
serve his country’s best interests cannot be 
doubted. 




26 


PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 



ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT. 

Ulysses Simpson Grant, eighteenth Presi¬ 
dent of the United States: born at Point 
Pleasant, Clermont County, Ohio, 27 th of 
April, 1822; died at Mount McGregor, New 
York, 23d of July, 1885. He was graduated 
from West Point in 1843; served through the 
Mexican War, 1846-48; left the army in 1854 
and retired to private life, living in St. Louis 
and later in Galena, Illinois. On the out¬ 
break of the Civil War in 1861 he was ap¬ 
pointed colonel of volunteers and brigadier- 
general, August 7*; captured Fort Donelson, 
February 16, 1862; was thereafter promoted 
to major-general of volunteers; was made com¬ 
mander of the District of West Tennessee; was 
made commander of the Department of Ten¬ 
nessee in October, 1862; received the surren¬ 
der of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, and was then 
made major-general in the regular army; was 
made commander of the Military Division of 
the Mississippi in October, 1863; was made 
lieutenant-general and commander of all the 
American armies in March, 1864; took up his 
headquarters with the Army of the Potomac 
in May, conducted the Wilderness campaign 
and commenced the siege of Petersburg in June; 
received the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, 
Virginia, April 9, 1865; was made general, July 
25, 1866; was secretary of war ad interim, 
August, 1867—January, 1868; was elected Pres¬ 
ident as Republican candidate in 1868, and 
re-elected in 1872; was an unsuccessful candi¬ 
date for re-nomination in 1880. His adminis¬ 
trations were marked by the passage of the 
Fifteenth Amendment, the inauguration of 
civil service reform, and the negotiation with 
Great Britain of the Treaty of Washington. * 


RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES. 

Rutherford Birchard Hayes, nineteenth 
President of the United States: born at Dela¬ 
ware, Ohio, 4th of October, 1822; died at 
Fremont, Ohio, 17th of January, 1893. He 
was graduated from Kenyon College in 1842; 
studied law and settled in Fremont, Ohio. 
Later he w T as city solicitor in Cincinnati. On 
the outbreak of the war he volunteered, became 
major of Ohio infantry, served with dis¬ 
tinction throughout the -war, and, at its close 
retired as brevet major-general. He entered 
Congress in 1865, and, having been elected 
governor of Ohio, he occupied that position 
from 1868 to 1872. He was defeated for Con¬ 
gress in the election of 1872; and was elected 
governor on the “honest money” issue in 
1875 after a campaign which attracted nation¬ 
al attention. It w r as his success in this 
contest which caused his name to be presented 
to the Republican National convention of 

1876. In the election which followed, his 
Democratic opponent was Samuel J. Tilden 
of New York. The election was contested and 
finally settled by an Electoral Commission 
appointed by an Act of Congress, January 29, 

1877, to investigate charges of fraudulent 
returns of electoral votes from Florida, 
Louisiana, Oregon, and South Carolina. 
The commission was composed of three Repub¬ 
lican senators, two Democratic senators, three 
Democratic representatives, two Republican 
representatives, and five associate justices of 
the Supreme Court. By the decision of this 
commission Mr. Hayes was declared elected. 
During his administration occurred the great 
railroad strikes of 1877, and the resumption of 
specie payments in 1879. 




PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 


27 



JAMES ABRAM GARFIELD. 

James Abram Garfield, twentieth Presi¬ 
dent of the United States: born at Orange, 
Cuyahoga County, Ohio, 19th of November 
1831; died at Elberon, New Jersey, 19th of 
September, 1881. He was a poor boy and 
after an early struggle with poverty, he 
entered Hiram College in Ohio. From there 
he went to Williams College and graduated in 
1856. For a time he was an instructor in and 
later president of Hiram College, 1856-61, and 
a member of the Ohio Senate, 1859-61. In the 
opening year of the war he was appointed 
lieutenant-colonel of volunteers and entrusted 
with a small independent command. At 
Middle Creek, Kentucky, he won a victory 
on January 10, 1862. He was made a briga¬ 
dier-general, served with distinction at Shiloh, 
and became chief of staff in Rosecrans’ Army 
of the Cumberland, serving at Chickamauga, in 
1863; was promoted major-general in 1863; had 
been already elected to Congress, and took his 
seat in December, 1863. From this time he 
served continuously until 1880, being one of 
the leading debaters and orators on the Repub¬ 
lican side. He was a member of important 
committees, Military Affairs, Ways and Means, 
Banking and Currency, and Appropriations 
and of the Electoral Commission of 1877. He 
was elected United States senator for Ohio in 
1880 and a few weeks later received the Repub¬ 
lican nomination for President. His opponent 
on the Democratic ticket was General Han¬ 
cock. General Garfield, entering office in 
March, 1881, became immediately involved in 
the Republican factional quarrels of New 
York. He was shot on July 2nd, 1881, by a 
fanatic, Guiteau, and died several weeks later. 



CHESTER ALAN ARTHUR. 


Chester Alan Arthur, twenty-first Presi¬ 
dent of the United States: born at Fairfield, 
Vermont, 5th of October, 1830; died at New 
York, 18th of November, 1886. He was 
graduated from Union College in 1848, and 
taught school for some years. He then 
studied law, was admitted to the bar, and 
practised in New York City where he attracted 
attention as a champion of the rights of colored 
people in that city. He was appointed a 
member of the staff of governor Morgan of 
New York in 1861. During the war he served 
with distinction as engineer-in-chief, acting 
quarter-master-general, and inspector-general. 
He was a prominent participator in New York 
politics and was appointed Collector of the 
Port of New York in 1871, from which posi¬ 
tion he was removed by President Hayes in 
1878. After the prolonged and bitter contest 
for the Republican nomination which ended in 
the choice of Garfield as candidate for the presi¬ 
dency, Mr. Arthur was selected for the second 
place on the ticket as a representative of the 
Stalwart faction. Becoming Vice-President in 
March, 1881, he was suddenly called to the first 
position by the assassination of Garfield, and 
took the oath of office on September 20, 1881. 
His administration, opened rather inasupicious- 
ly because of the prejudices formed by reason 
of his active interference in New York politics 
during his term as Vice-President, proved 
dignified and conservative and won him the 
respect of all classes. He gave his influence 
to the strengthening of naval defences, vetoed 
a Chinese immigration bill and a suspiciously 
large river and harbor bill. He was an unsuc¬ 
cessful candidate for re-nomination in 1884 

• 







28 


PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 



GROVER CLEVELAND. 

Grover Cleveland, twenty-second and 
twenty-fourth President of the United States: 
born at Caldwell, New Jersey, March 18th, 
1837; died June 24th, 1908. The son of a 
clergyman, Mr. Cleveland received a fair 
education, studied law, and entered upon its 
practice at Buffalo, New York, in 1859. He 
was assistant district attorney of Erie County, 
1863-66; w r as defeated for district attorney in 
1865; and was sheriff of Erie County, 1871-74. 
A reform movement made him Mayor of 
Buffalo in 1881 and his efficient administra¬ 
tion made such a favorable impression that in 
the summer of 1882 he received the Demo¬ 
cratic nomination for governor of New r York. 
Republican disaffection contributed to his 
election by a majority of 192,000. His ad¬ 
ministration, . following such an unprece¬ 
dented victory, w’as such as to give satisfac¬ 
tion to all who desired honest government and 
in 1884 he received the Democratic nomina¬ 
tion for President and was elected over James 
G. Blaine, the Republican candidate. His ad¬ 
ministration was marked by his support of 
civil service reform, of hard money, and es¬ 
pecially of tariff reform, which he advocated 
in a message to Congress in December, 1887. 
He was again the candidate of his party in 
1888 but w r as defeated. He retired from 
office, resumed the practice of law, and 
settled in New r York City. In 1892 he was 
the third time nominated by the Democrats 
and was elected over Benjamin Harrison, his 
opponent in the contest of 1888. In 1893 
President Cleveland convened an extra session 
of Congress, which repealed the purchasing 
clause of the so-called Sherman Silver Bill. 



BENJAMIN HARRISON. 

Benjamin Harrison, twenty-third Presi¬ 
dent of the United States: born at North Bend, 
Ohio, 20th of August, 1833; died at Indiana¬ 
polis, Indiana, 13th of March, 1901. He was 
the grandson of William Henry Harrison, 
ninth President of the United States. He 
was graduated from Miami University in 
1852; studied law, and settled in Indianapolis 
to practice his profession He •was elected 
(Republican) reporter of the Indiana Supreme 
Court in 1860. Soon after the outbreak of 
hostilities between North and South he volun¬ 
teered and became colonel of an Indiana regi¬ 
ment. In the battles of Resaca, and Peach 
Tree Creek, ir: 1864, he won distinction for 
bravery and left tve army with the brevet of 
brigadier-general, lie then resumed his posi¬ 
tion of Supreme CouH reporter and w y as later 
known as an effective campaign orator and 
successful lawyer. Iu 1876 he received the 
Republican nomination for governor of 
Indiana but was defeated by a small majority. 
His name was presented to the Republican 
national convention of 1880. He was elected 
to the United States Senate and served from 
1881-87. At the Republican national con¬ 
vention of 1888 he received the nomination, and 
was elected over President Cleveland in a cam¬ 
paign in which protection was the principal 
issue. His administration was marked by the 
McKinley Tariff Act in 1890, with the atten¬ 
dant feature of reciprocity, and by the meeting 
of the first Pan-American Congress. In 1892 
Mr. Harrison was again the Republican 
nominee for the presidency but in the election 
he was again confronted with Mr. Cleveland 
as the Democratic candidate and was defeated. 




PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 


29 


) 



william McKinley. 


THEODORE ROOSEVELT. 



William McKinley, twenty-fifth President Theodore Roosevelt, twenty-sixth Presi» 
of the United States: born at Niles, Trumbull dent of the United States: born at New York 
County, Ohio, 29th of January, 1844; died at City, 27th of October, 1858. He was educated 
Buffalo, New York, 14th of September, 1901. privately and at Harvard from which institu- 
He was educated at Union Seminary, Poland, tion he was graduated in 1880. He then 
Ohio, and at Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa. traveled for a year in Europe and in 1881 pub- 
He was forced by ill health to abandon his lished his first book, “The Naval War of 
studies before completing his college course. 1812.” He entered politics as a champion of 
For a time he was a school teacher and then civil service reform; was elected to the State 
clerk in the Poland post office. At the out- Assembly of New York in 1881; was chairman 
break of the Civil War he enlisted as a private of the New York delegation to the Republican 
soldier and served with distinction throughout national convention of 1884; was independent 
the war, and when mustered out in July, 1865, candidate for the mayoralty of New York, in 
was acting assistant adjutant-general. At the 1886, but w r as defeated; was appointed a 
close of the war he studied law at Youngstown, member of the United States Civil Service 
Ohio, and Albany, New York, and settled for Commission and served from 1886 to 1895; 
practice in Canton, Ohio. He was prosecuting was influential in advancing the number of 
attorney of Stark County, 1870-71; was Re- employees on that list from 14,000 to 40,000; 
publican member of the 45th, 46th, 47th, 49th, was president of the board of New York police 
50th, and 51st Congresses; was defeated for the commissioners, 1896; was assistant-secretary of 
52nd Congress. As Congressman he became a the navy, 1897-98; was lieutenant-colonel of 
figure of national prominence and served on the United States volunteer cavalry regiment, 
many important committees. As chairman known as “Roosevelt’s Rough Riders;” bore a 
of the Ways and Means committee he intro- conspicuous part in the Cuban campaign and 
duced and supported the tariff bill of 1890 was promoted colonel; w r as elected governor of 
which bore his name. He served two terms New York, 1898; was Republican candidate 
as governor of Ohio, 1892-96. He was for Vice-President and was elected 1900. On 
nominated and elected President by the the death of President McKinley he became 
Republican party in 1896, and re-elected President, September 14, 1901; and he was 
in 1900. On September 6, 1901, he was elected in 1904 by the largest popular majority 

shot at Buffalo by Leon Czolgosz, an anar- ever given a candidate. The most important 
chist, and died on Sentember 14. The events of his two administrations have been 
Spanish-American war, the annexation of the establishment of self government in Cuba, 
the Hawaiian Islands, and the establishment recognition of the independence of Panama, the 
of civil government in the Philippine Islands beginning of the Panama Canal, the passage of 
were among the important events of his ad- the Reclamation Act, and establishment of 
ministration. a provisional government in Cuba. 







30 


PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 



WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT. 

William Howard Taft, twenty-seventh 
President of the United States: born in Cincin¬ 
nati, Ohio, 15 th of September, 1857 . The son 
of an eminent jurist and statesman; was 
graduated from Yale in 1878 ; received the fol¬ 
lowing honorary degrees: LL. B. from the 
Law School of Cincinnati University in 1880 ; 
LL. D. from the University of Pennsylvania 
in 1902 , from Yale in 1903 , from Harvard in 
1905 , and from Miami in 1905 . He held 
various federal, state, and academic positions 
during the years from 1881 - 1900 , when he was 
made chairman of the U. S. Philippine Com¬ 
mission and served as the first civil governor of 
the Philippine Islands in 1901 - 1903 . In the 
above office he established civil government in 
all the provinces; a public school system; a 
judiciary system; a health department and 
postal and civil service systems. In February, 
1904 , he entered President Roosevelt’s cabinet 
as Secretary of War and served until July, 1908 , 
when he became the nominee of the Republican 
party for President, and was elected in the 
November following. The first important 
event of his administration was the passage of 
the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Bill which finally 
received his support. That measure failed to 
carry out the party pledges for tariff revision 
downwards and roused great hostility in Con¬ 
gress and with the general public. As a further 
tariff measure, President Taft presented and 
secured the passage of the Canadian Reciprocity 
Bill. Mr. Taft failed to receive the support of 
the progressive element in his party and, while 
re-nominated by the Republicans in 1912 , was 
defeated in the election following. 



WOODROW WILSON. 

Woodrow Wilson, twenty-eighth Presi¬ 
dent of the United States: born at Staunton, 
Virginia, 28th of December, 1856. The son 
of a clergyman; was graduated from Prince¬ 
ton in 1879, after preliminary studies at 
Davidson College, North Carolina. He stud¬ 
ied law at the University of Virginia, 
1879-1880; practiced law in Atlanta, 1882- 
1883, and began there the political and 
historical writings which first brought him 
into public notice; he studied political science 
at Johns-Hopkins and in 1886 received the 
degree of Ph.D. from that institution. He 
was an associate professor at Bryn Mawr, 
1885-1888, and at Wesleyan University, 1888- 
1890. In 1890 he began his career as a pro¬ 
fessor at Princeton and in 1902 became 
president of that University. In 1910 he 
was elected Democratic governor of New Jer¬ 
sey. Prominent among the many important 
statutes enacted under this administration as 
governor, the Primary Law and the Work¬ 
men’s Compensation Law may be taken as 
types of the political and social measures which 
he has urged. In July, 1912, he received the 
Democratic nomination for the presidency and 
was elected in the following November. 
Through^ President Wilson’s influence the 
Congress, during the first year of his adminis¬ 
tration, passed the Underwood-Simmons 
Tariff Law, with provisions for a Tax on in¬ 
comes, and the National Banking and Currency 
Law. In dealing with Mexico and with the 
warring nations of Europe, he has had to meet 
many grave crises, which at times have threat¬ 
ened to involve the United States in war. 





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